The Music Workshop Company Blog

Each month the Music Workshop Company publishes two blogs. One blog, written by the MWC team addresses a key issue in Music Education or gives information about a particular genre or period of music. The other blog is written by a guest writer, highlighting good practice or key events in Music Education. We hope you enjoy reading the blogs.

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To contribute as a guest writer please email Maria@music-workshop.co.uk

Posts tagged “OPERA”

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Puccini 100 years on

Posted on 15th October 2024 at 15:40

Giacomo Puccini is widely regarded as one of the greatest opera composers of all time, and second only to Verdi in terms of the great Italian opera writers.

Puccini was one of the young school of composers who were active in Italy as Verdi’s long career was coming to an end. Many of his works were written in the ‘verismo’ style – placing everyday people at the heart of the action, with subject matter that often focused on romance and passion.

Several of his operas are now considered staples of the genre, such as ‘La bohème’, ‘Madama Butterfly’ and ‘Tosca’ (a favourite of our Artistic Director, Maria Thomas).

Puccini died on 29th Nov 1924, and as the 100th anniversary of his death approaches, we take a closer look at his career.

More Resources for Home Learning

Posted on 30th January 2021 at 17:00

There are some great new resources available online to support teachers and parents with learning both in the classroom and at home.

These are some of the MWC team's top tips for free resources.

Do share your top tips for online resources with us on Twitter - @musicworkshopco

Stravinsky & Diaghilev – Anniversary of a Collaboration

Posted on 12th February 2020 at 10:17

1920 was a busy year for Stravinsky and Diaghilev with the premiere of the ballet Le Chant du Roissignol on 2nd February and the premiere of Pulcinella on 15th May.

Stravinsky first worked with Diaghilev on L’Oiseau de Feu (The Firebird) in 1910.

The work is of interest both as Stravinsky’s breakthrough piece and as the beginning of one of the most well known collaborations in the ballet world.

Aiming High with the Opera North Orchestra Academy

Posted on 27th February 2018 at 15:30

Acclaimed for the high quality of its operatic performances, Opera North also boasts one of the country’s finest orchestras. The Orchestra of Opera North plays at each of the Company’s operas and regularly performs at concerts in the region. An important, and enjoyable, additional strand of its work however, is ensuring that the next generation of young musicians are given valuable support, guidance and inspiration as they build on their playing expertise.

This month, the team at Opera North share their vision with MWC…

OperaScotland, the Listings and Archive Website

Posted on 1st May 2017 at 14:00

Has the name of a singer, heard in a particular opera, ever escaped you? Or are you interested in the history of an opera or singer? If the answer is “Yes,” the growing number of online databases can help. MWC caught up with Peter Fraser, one of three founders of OperaScotland, to find out more…

Launched in 2009, OperaScotland is led by three brothers who had no idea that what to them seemed such an obvious need – developing an archive of the live performing arts – had also been addressed elsewhere. For example, AusStage offers a fantastic resource for Australians: elsewhere such activity tends to focus on work within an individual venue or city.

Shakespeare: Inspiration in Music

Posted on 13th April 2016 at 14:00

April 2016 is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as one of the greatest English writers ever. Widely known simply as The Bard, his plays are some of the most commonly performed to this day. In a new book titled The 101 Greatest Plays, Guardian theatre critic Michael Billington finds room for three of Shakespeare’s works, depite going as far back as Aeschylus and Aristophanes.

Many composers have been inspired by Shakepeare’s gift for storytelling. Songs, incidental music and film music has all been influenced by the plays, and there are about 400 works, many of which are operas, plus songs and symphonic pieces based on Shakespearian tales.