Category: Opera

THE BERLIOZ REQUIEM

The Berlioz Requiem will be performed later the same evening in St Paul's Cathedral. Further details available from the City of London Festival www.colf.org David Cairns is a British journalist, non-fiction writer and musician. He is a leading authority on the life of Berlioz. David Cairns' work in journalism has spanned a number of high profile newspapers and magazines. He was chief music critic of the Sunday Times from 1983 to 1992, having earlier been Music Critic and ArtsEditor of The Spectator. Other publications for which he has been a music critic include The Evening Standard, The Financial Times and The New Statesman. He is best known for his monumental two-volume biography of Berlioz: "Berlioz: The Making of an Artist 1803-1832" and "Berlioz: Servitude and Greatness 1832-1869". The books won a number of major awards, including The Royal Philharmonic Society's Music award, The Yorkshire Post "Book of the Year" award, The British Academy's Derek Allen prize, The Samuel Johnson Prize for non-fiction and Biography of the year in the Whitbread Book Awards.

Monteverdi and Venice

These lectures covered the history of Italian opera from its beginnings in the early seventeenth century to what might be thought its climax at the end of the nineteenth century. Each lecture concentrated on one operatic composer and his relationship to the social and musical scene of a great operatic city.

THE OTHER SIDE OF SULLIVAN

Sir Arthur Sullivan, the musical half of the Gilbert and Sullivan partnership, was buried in the crypt of St Paul's by order of Queen Victoria. The most important musician of his day, he composed a symphony, a concerto, many ballads and art songs, and a great amount of church and large-scale choral music, in addition to his famous operettas. We will explore the lesser-known side of Sullivan's output. Part of the Craftsman's Art and Music's Measure lecture series in commemoration of the tercentenary of the topping out ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral when the last stone was put in place. St Paul's is the masterpiece of Britain's most admired architect, Gresham Professor Sir Cristopher Wren, who worked with Gresham Professor Robert Hooke to build one of the world's best-loved buildings. Work commenced in 1675 and the final stone was laid on 20 October 1708, Sir Christopher's 76th birthday. Information about the 300th anniversary restoration programme can be found at www.stpauls.co.uk.

PUCCINI AND NEW YORK

These lectures cover the history of Italian opera from its beginnings in the early seventeenth century to what might be thought its climax at the end of the nineteenth century. Each lecture will concentrate on one operatic composer and his relationship to the social and musical scene of a great operatic city.

A sing-in with Gilbert & Sullivan

What is it about Gilbert and Sullivan that has made their works so enormously popular for so many generations? It is, among other things, their perfect marriage between words and music that gives endless pleasure to singers and audiences alike. Gilbert’s wonderful wit and Sullivan’s irresistible tunefulness magically combine to provide entertainment on the highest level, of the sort which has so magnificently stood the test of time and will surely continue to do so. Professor Wilson's lecture could well provide an opportunity for audience participation!

VERDI AND MILAN

These lectures cover the history of Italian opera from its beginnings in the early seventeenth century to what might be thought its climax at the end of the nineteenth century. Each lecture will concentrate on one operatic composer and his relationship to the social and musical scene of a great operatic city.