https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/blog daily 0.75 2021-01-01 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/blog/insights-on-opera-in-film-and-television monthly 0.5 2021-01-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1609497258798-F67DVI3GCVYIIGU9STC6/MV5BMTg1MDFiOWItM2VhYS00YTk5LWEzMGUtZTYxMGRjNGNlMGJhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQwMTkxMDU%40._V1_.jpg Blog - Insights on Opera in Film and Television - By Priya Radhakrishnan As we begin a new year in lockdown contemplating what the months ahead look like, my time spent attending live opera seems like a distant memory. Personally, this has been a time for me to engage with music and drama in ways I had never done before. Surprisingly, I have experienced the emotional recollections, connection, spontaneity and turmoil opera has to offer from the comfort of my studio flat through my various streaming subscriptions. Opera in film and TV struck a chord with me long before I ever had my first music lesson and continues to do so. The marriage of opera and film seems blatantly obvious considering the historical roots of film as a genre and the emotional affordance they offer but what particularly piques my interest is when my favourite arias appear in the most unexpected places. I distinctly remember, while watching my first staged opera at 16 years old, I couldn’t stop thinking about Tom and Jerry which I hadn’t watched for years. Then it hit me! Watching Barber of Seville at the Metropolitan Opera in New York took me back in time to an episode of the cartoon which is underscored by themes from the opera where each character portrays a different interpretation of Figaro’s cleverness and ingenuity. In this one show about a mischievous cat and crafty mouse were countless references to the classical and operatic canon which stayed in my memory. Modern cinema is once again embracing operatic soundtracks to heighten the dramatic experience of the viewer, this time using well known classical themes to evoke timeless emotional responses to contemporary visual material. There is something nostalgic about opera that distances us from reality so when we watch a movie or TV show for the first time, we are overcome with a feeling of familiarity that keeps us coming back for more. For instance, the final instalment of the Godfather trilogy, Godfather III, is subtly underscored by an the equally melodramatic Sicilian vendetta opera, Cavlleria Rusticana. The opera itself briefly features during a scene set in the Teatro de Palermo and the music perfectly underscores Michael Corleone’s memories throughout the trilogy with his scream in the finale being magnificently muted by Mascagni’s “Intermezzo”. Upon reflection, my cinematic experience is amplified by my love for opera but looking beyond my own backyard, perhaps this is the way the generations to come will keep opera and classical music alive and loved. The notion that opera is a dying art form is untrue in many ways, but the popularity of the genre in mainstream entertainment makes a poignant argument that opera will continue to excite and delight, even in the most unexpected scenarios. While I wait for opera houses to reopen safely, I will continue to enjoy the heart wrenching sounds of La Traviatta in Pretty Woman, and the delightful spectacle of Homer Simpson emulating Placido Domingo in La Boheme, all from the comfort of my home thanks to the genius of filmmakers who have picked up the baton passed on by the greatest opera composers known to us. https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/blog/welcome-to-the-chorus-hdr5g monthly 0.5 2020-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1604420098034-WANUBA418S6EOVF7ZQLT/ows_d61f9d6d-f2d6-4afb-b254-c02f31d61d2a.jpg Blog - Hamilton - a milestone in operatic history? https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/blog/news-september-2020 monthly 0.5 2020-09-30 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/blog/welcome-to-the-chorus monthly 0.5 2020-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1586186284675-ZZUOMBNP001JTP9LOAJC/opera+choruses.jpg Blog - Welcome to the Chorus https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/blog/category/Travel monthly 0.5 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/blog/tag/Travel monthly 0.5 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation daily 0.75 2021-06-02 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/edward-gardner monthly 0.5 2021-06-09 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/sir-antonio-pappano monthly 0.5 2021-05-28 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/gavin-bryars monthly 0.5 2021-05-19 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/ella-marchment monthly 0.5 2021-04-27 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/dr-naomi-andre monthly 0.5 2021-05-05 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/anthony-roth-constanzo monthly 0.5 2021-04-29 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/philip-venables monthly 0.5 2021-04-07 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/nadine-benjamin monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/peter-sellars monthly 0.5 2021-03-28 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/richard-thomas monthly 0.5 2021-03-03 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/danielle-de-niese monthly 0.5 2021-02-24 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/annilese-miskimmon monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/dame-jane-glover monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/kamala-sankaram monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/sir-graham-vick monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/oliver-mears monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/event-one-anthony-davis monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/event-five-panel monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/event-three-z6z62 monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-in-conversation/event-two-ftxke monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/marilyn-forever daily 0.75 2020-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585053720547-K883ZDFY0L2OQMN8N2O6/Marilyn+Forever+Poster.JPG Marilyn Forever - Marilyn Forever (May 2019). In 2019, Oxford Contemporary Opera officially launched with their inaugural production of the UK premiere of Marilyn Forever, an opera about Marilyn Monroe by Gavin Bryars with libretto by Marilyn Bowering. Directed by Zerlina Vulliamy with Musical Direction from Charlotte Corderoy, Marilyn Forever received its UK premiere at the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building in May 2019. Featuring a fantastic cast starring Margaret Lingas, the opera was a huge success, selling out two of its three shows. “Marilyn Monroe is a fascinating, complex character whose multi-faceted aspects are explored in this opera. Artistically, we are aiming to give the audience some insight into the emotional and sometimes troubling private life she led. Given the current climate of increasing awareness given to women in Hollywood, we want to celebrate those like Marilyn Monroe as well as recognising the sensitive matter of abuse and sexism in the workplace” - Zerlina Vulliamy, Director. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585055174073-HJPFXSS4MHOVL36Z09MA/IMG_3147.jpg Marilyn Forever https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585055174631-GKAQDI8UKWQEX42P1HZT/IMG_3156.jpg Marilyn Forever https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585055174381-5QTXXM6D3LG1A8X9P1CN/IMG_3170.jpg Marilyn Forever https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585055149638-IAMQMB25I9D2RT45YBS0/IMG_3218.jpg Marilyn Forever https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585055177687-VTVUHK9RLPTYMZF1F1TS/IMG_3312.jpg Marilyn Forever https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585055291075-N9FEXXGOMTP6NATOT1YN/IMG_3364.jpg Marilyn Forever https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/general-1 daily 1.0 2023-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585050080420-F2DLZQ1RURMWP5180MKV/Untitled_Artwork_page-0001.jpg General https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585050898396-PMQJW18W4E0IL0OTHDR8/Marilyn+Forever+Poster.JPG General - Marilyn Forever In 2019, Oxford Contemporary Opera officially launched with their inaugural production of the UK premiere of Marilyn Forever, an opera about Marilyn Monroe by Gavin Bryars (libretto by Marilyn Bowering). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585050699784-RVI5S8R4F1BK6HIB4ZWY/OCOF+Poster.jpg_page-0001.jpg General - Oxford Contemporary Opera Festival The Oxford Contemporary Opera Festival featured three, new, short and exciting operas all written, performed, directed and produced by students. Performed twice, the evening consisted of The Outsider (by Hani Elias), Susanna (by Zerlina Vulliamy) and Bou6 (by Israel Lai). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1615634318397-BCAU3PUIP3EMPO4LK4HC/finalposter1024_2.jpg General - Opera for One In March 2021, Oxford Contemporary Opera commissioned Opera for One: a mixed-media virtual opera about the five stages of grief featuring five new songs alongside artworks. https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-festival daily 0.75 2020-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585056171288-IJFFUQVPIBQSJFFT0PZ7/OCOF+Poster.jpg_page-0001.jpg Opera Festival - Oxford Contemporary Opera Festival. Following the sell-out success of Marilyn Forever, the Oxford Contemporary Opera Society returned with a festival of three short operas, all written, directed, produced and performed by students. Composed by Hani Elias, Zerlina Vulliamy and Israel Lai the operas are centred on a contemporary narrative, featuring an adaptation of Camus’ The Outsider, an opera about sexual harassment in the workplace and an opera inspired by the conflict currently happening in Hong Kong. The festival featured some of the best student performers and crew in Oxford, run under the general direction of Zerlina Vulliamy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585057397216-5T4MK10PZX2WGKUHGYQB/outsider.jpg Opera Festival - The Outsider by Hani Elias (libretto by Marnie Shutter) Indebted to Camus’s L’Étranger, The Outsider is an opera which delves into an array of themes pertinent to today’s social climate. It is an opera which seeks to invert tradition and to uproot dominant doctrines of the Western world – an opera which challenges contemporary authority figures and holds them up to the light. Watch on as an audience of journalists, while this twenty-first century adaptation of the original novel’s trial scene juggles the words of Donald Trump and reflections of Simone de Beauvoir around current, global issues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585131345416-G70KHZQKY7VEW5C5VWWU/IMG_7832.JPG Opera Festival - Susanna by Zerlina Vulliamy The eponymous heroine of this opera takes her inspiration from the character of the same name from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Updated to a modern office, Susanna is now an ambitious young woman working in an office with her fellow worker, Figaro, who is clearly interested in her. When she begins receiving inappropriate texts from a mysterious number (later revealed to be their boss - or the Count), Susanna begins to doubt herself and her actions. This opera was my attempt at updating a classic opera into a modern setting, showcasing a relatable and realistic female character who experiences something that many experience on a daily basis. “We are given signs across the piece of a thoughtful composer with a sense of humour: ‘Susanna’ offered at once raunchy comedy, lyricism, and a snappy formation of feminist resolve” - Oxford Opening Night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585057521762-9JD5AA8US2ZKLCOMQSSQ/bou6.jpg Opera Festival - Bou6 by Israel Lai (libretto by Miuccia Chan) ‘There is no riot, only tyranny,’ said a black banner, erected in the heart of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on 1 July 2019. Freedom fighters, predominantly in their early twenties and teenage years, had broken into the building to send the message that this legislative body had failed in its job to represent the people and the interests of their society. Like the movement it was inspired by, this opera is hardly just about the recent crisis—it is a dialogue with all tyrannical structures that exist in our societies. Each character on stage represents a group of people or a concept; the story aspires to be a mirror for all Tyranny, Riot, Condemners, and Departed in society to gaze upon, and only those who scrutinise their reflections with eyes open will be able to understand the intended meaning in its entirety. It re-contextualises ideas of government, anarchy, and truth - what truly happens in the opera is left to the imagination. Bou6 is the Jyutping romanisation for a character that means violent, and is used in the slogan for the words for both riot and tyranny. 6 is also a reference to June, where the story is set. For all who fight for HK, in spite of those who fight against. https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/contact-us daily 0.75 2023-11-21 https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-festival-1 daily 0.75 2021-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585056171288-IJFFUQVPIBQSJFFT0PZ7/OCOF+Poster.jpg_page-0001.jpg Opera Festival (Copy) - Oxford Contemporary Opera Festival. Following the sell-out success of Marilyn Forever, the Oxford Contemporary Opera Society returned with a festival of three short operas, all written, directed, produced and performed by students. Composed by Hani Elias, Zerlina Vulliamy and Israel Lai the operas are centred on a contemporary narrative, featuring an adaptation of Camus’ The Outsider, an opera about sexual harassment in the workplace and an opera inspired by the conflict currently happening in Hong Kong. The festival featured some of the best student performers and crew in Oxford, run under the general direction of Zerlina Vulliamy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585057397216-5T4MK10PZX2WGKUHGYQB/outsider.jpg Opera Festival (Copy) - The Outsider by Hani Elias (libretto by Marnie Shutter) Indebted to Camus’s L’Étranger, The Outsider is an opera which delves into an array of themes pertinent to today’s social climate. It is an opera which seeks to invert tradition and to uproot dominant doctrines of the Western world – an opera which challenges contemporary authority figures and holds them up to the light. Watch on as an audience of journalists, while this twenty-first century adaptation of the original novel’s trial scene juggles the words of Donald Trump and reflections of Simone de Beauvoir around current, global issues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585131345416-G70KHZQKY7VEW5C5VWWU/IMG_7832.JPG Opera Festival (Copy) - Susanna by Zerlina Vulliamy The eponymous heroine of this opera takes her inspiration from the character of the same name from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Updated to a modern office, Susanna is now an ambitious young woman working in an office with her fellow worker, Figaro, who is clearly interested in her. When she begins receiving inappropriate texts from a mysterious number (later revealed to be their boss - or the Count), Susanna begins to doubt herself and her actions. This opera was my attempt at updating a classic opera into a modern setting, showcasing a relatable and realistic female character who experiences something that many experience on a daily basis. “We are given signs across the piece of a thoughtful composer with a sense of humour: ‘Susanna’ offered at once raunchy comedy, lyricism, and a snappy formation of feminist resolve” - Oxford Opening Night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585057521762-9JD5AA8US2ZKLCOMQSSQ/bou6.jpg Opera Festival (Copy) - Bou6 by Israel Lai (libretto by Miuccia Chan) ‘There is no riot, only tyranny,’ said a black banner, erected in the heart of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on 1 July 2019. Freedom fighters, predominantly in their early twenties and teenage years, had broken into the building to send the message that this legislative body had failed in its job to represent the people and the interests of their society. Like the movement it was inspired by, this opera is hardly just about the recent crisis—it is a dialogue with all tyrannical structures that exist in our societies. Each character on stage represents a group of people or a concept; the story aspires to be a mirror for all Tyranny, Riot, Condemners, and Departed in society to gaze upon, and only those who scrutinise their reflections with eyes open will be able to understand the intended meaning in its entirety. It re-contextualises ideas of government, anarchy, and truth - what truly happens in the opera is left to the imagination. Bou6 is the Jyutping romanisation for a character that means violent, and is used in the slogan for the words for both riot and tyranny. 6 is also a reference to June, where the story is set. For all who fight for HK, in spite of those who fight against. https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/opera-for-one daily 0.75 2021-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1615632762328-CS1MXIOK37NB54KPU1BE/finalposter1024_2.jpg Opera for One - Opera for One. In March 2021, Oxford Contemporary Opera announced Opera for One: a virtual opera comprising five songs commissioned specially for this multi-media project. In response to the pandemic, Opera For One focuses on five themes of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Composers, librettists, singers, and artists have been invited to collaborate in this mixed-media virtual opera. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1615647779810-9ER8UDQ1RJ3NY9LYQKKE/1%5B1%5D.png Opera for One https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1615647851151-DYJ27TYHY2UK0617HBO5/1%5B1%5D%5B2%5D.png Opera for One https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1615647810999-BQ4GG65FHVDPJSOLH8F9/1%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.png Opera for One https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1615808419186-1B0SE9ETRUS3GNBPXD7W/1%5B1%5D+copy.png Opera for One https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1615647879945-8UEGFH92I3UNQIHK11VQ/1%5B1%5D%5B3%5D.png Opera for One https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1615647905565-M075D3VL3G3351ROWCBA/1%5B1%5D%5B4%5D.png Opera for One https://www.oxfordcontemporaryopera.com/zerlina-vulliamy-director daily 0.75 2023-11-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585052267523-UECHA4ELBQTO6CD6OZSN/zv.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585051665086-JKX06MO4KQYTBQB4OPEU/IMG_3356.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585054482647-V0KWXP5EAWRJVCT3J9OJ/IMG_3290.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585055177687-VTVUHK9RLPTYMZF1F1TS/IMG_3312.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585055174381-5QTXXM6D3LG1A8X9P1CN/IMG_3170.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585054781405-FRCZGQ7938TL0SPA2COC/IMG_3182.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585055149638-IAMQMB25I9D2RT45YBS0/IMG_3218.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585057444402-68Q9BT0TRNQY4ZP208HM/susanna.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585067947538-W8DR6DIZJBEWKBGH3XAT/IMG_7834.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585067864454-UJ4TDEAY68SV4M48BG8U/IMG_7873.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585057397216-5T4MK10PZX2WGKUHGYQB/outsider.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585131345416-G70KHZQKY7VEW5C5VWWU/IMG_7832.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e79ed57f6cc9346e3e64518/1585057521762-9JD5AA8US2ZKLCOMQSSQ/bou6.jpg