Puccini and Verismo Opera A detailed studies of each of Puccini’s operas and a selection of his other works compared to the works of contemporaries. The course followed Puccini’s life chronologically from the poverty of his childhood when he was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps as a church composer, his student days when… Read more »
Unravelling Ravel A study of his life and music and that of his contemporaries. Maurice Ravel was a very private man who wrote some of the best-loved music of the twentieth century although he always dismissed Bolero as merely an academic exercise – but then he never saw Torvill and Dean. Works studied include Pavane pour… Read more »
Britten, Walton and Tippett Three of the greatest British composers of the twentieth century had very different attitudes to music but all attempted to write in many different media such as opera, choral, orchestral and chamber music. Among the operas studied were Midsummer Marriage, King Priam, Peter Grimes, Billy Budd, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Albert Herring,… Read more »