National opera in Britain, 1902: new schemes, new works

15 March 2010, 17:15 - 19:15

Event Type: Seminar

Speakers: Aidan Thomson (Queen's University Belfast)

Description:

Ethel Smyth's Der Wald was added at the last minute to the Covent Garden summer season in 1902, where it was one of only two British works performed that year, the other being Herbert Bunning's La Princesse Osra. How and why was it added? In answering this question, I aim to examine the broader issue of 'national opera' in Britain, both stylistically and institutionally, and the extent to which Smyth's and Bunning's works played a part in the discourse on this term. In particular, I shall consider two proposals that appeared more or less simultaneously early in 1902 for a new British opera house: one, somewhat speculatively, by the Earl of Dysart; the other, in much more detailed terms, by a Conservative MP, William Johnson Galloway.

Please note: this session takes place in room ST275
2nd Floor, Stewart House

Venue: The Wolfson Room (IHR)

The Wolfson Room is located on the first floor of the North Block of Senate House.

Related Events: Music in Britain