Download January Programme of Events Friday 27th January

January Programme of Events
Friday 27th January @ 5 pm in the T.S Eliot Lecture Theatre, Merton College (to be followed by
a drinks reception in the foyer)
Lecture: Woman. Alone: Directing opera now.
Katie Mitchell is one of the few senior women working in opera in Britain and mainland
Europe today. She has worked here at English National Opera, The Royal Opera House,
Glyndebourne Festival and Welsh National Opera. She is currently opening the revival of
George Benjamin's Written on Skin at the Royal Opera House whilst preparing for George
Benjamin's second commission scheduled for 2018. She has also worked extensively in
Germany, France, Austria and Scandinavia at houses like The Staatsoper, Berlin, The Salzburg
Festival and Royal Danish Opera. She is currently a resident artist at The Aix en Provence
Festival where she has directed five operas including Pelleas and Melisande and Handel's
Alcina. In this lecture she will describe her background in theatre and how she fell into opera
to become one of its leading international lights.
Saturday 28th January @ 9.30 am in the Ante-Chapel, New College
Masterclass: Acting Handel: How to bring the da capo aria to life on stage.
Katie MItchell will draw on her recent experience of directing Handel's Alcina at the Aix en
Provence Festival to run a workshop giving insights into how to make the da capo aria work
dramatically. These arias are notoriously difficult for opera singers to perform on stage and
the workshop will be offer acting ideas and concrete tips to help the young singer navigate
this tricky form. The workshop will take the form of a 'masterclass' where young singers are
directed live by Katie in front of the audience. There will also be opportunities for some
audience participation. Footage of the original production of Alcina will also be seen as part
of the workshop.
The above events are free, but attendance should be registered at:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/newchamberopera
Two further events are planned for April 2017. Details will be posted in due course.