THE ARTS SOCIETY OF CHICHESTER LAVANT VALLEY In association with the Arts Societies of Chichester, City of Chichester and Chichester Evening Study Day at The Assembly Room, Chichester 25 March, 2025
Sarah Lenton has been working in this glorious but disconcerting art form for
her entire professional life. Here, she unpacks some of its idiosyncrasies – the
huge voices, big gestures, and bizarre plots – and covers practically
everything and everyone involved in putting on a show. She charts opera
from its classic 17th-century beginnings to its evolution in the 18th, (brocade,
high voices, happy endings), and on through war and revolution to the 19th,
(nationalism, grand opera, and dead sopranos). As we hit the troubled 20thcentury, the genre begins to spin out of control but, to everyone’s surprise, it’slanded in the 21st in good shape, with more festivals and opera houses than ever. On the way we discover how closely connected opera is with the politics and tastes of the people who pay for it. We also look at the ultimate theatre man, Puccini, whose six shows continue
to keep most opera houses afloat and we’ll go backstage to see how on earth -
and against all odds - it all comes together. - 10:45 Lecture 1 Opera, the Melting Pot of Culture
- 11:45 Tea/coffee break (please bring your own flask or takeaway)
- 12:00 Lecture 2 The Life and Times of Puccini
- 1:00-2:00 Lunch Interval
- 2:00-3:00 Lecture 3 Backstage at the Opera
Bring your own lunch and we will provide a glass of wine or soft drinks.
Cost for the day: Members £35; guests, who must be accompanied by a
member, £40 if places are available. Please give the name and address of guests and you will be notified of availability with an accompanying request for
payment. |