Official launch – 26 March 2007The partnership between Opera North and the University of Leeds was officially launched with a champagne reception for 400 key influencers and stakeholders. The celebration of the partnership featured live music, operatic performances and guest speakers.
View launch event photos
Collaboration progress update
Positive progress has been made since the launch of this ground-breaking partnership in March 2007, powered by many innovative collaborative projects and the development of dynamic new initiatives. Research projects
Numerous collaborative research opportunities have been identified by the collaboration. Those underway include research into noise impact in the context of forthcoming EU legislation, and the University archivist has begun work with Opera North to evaluate existing records and help develop an archive for the future. Funding for two collaborative PhDs has been awarded; the first started in October and is exploring ‘Adaptation and libretto’.
New research initiatives are also being developed such as a potential joint project in China, building on the University’s established profile and Opera North’s recent exploratory visit. Forums to facilitate innovative and creative thinking are also being established such as ‘The Music of the Spheres’, an event bringing together performers, physicists, mathematicians, writers, musicians and historians to debate and find synergies in their different approaches.
Work-based learning
An Opera North Placement Programme open to students from a broad range of academic disciplines has been established. It also offers opportunities to students to observe elements of the production process and engage in a study programme linked to the production of ‘The Fortunes of King Croesus’ and the 2008 Shakespeare season. Another exciting initiative involves the University and an Opera North production’s creative team working together to generate material beneficial to learning, practice and the audience experience.
Conferences
The two organisations have come together to jointly deliver events including a series of conferences cross-pollinating opera with the disciplines of Fine Art and the History of Art, Music, Gender Studies, Performance and Cultural Industries and Theatre and Theatricalities. University experts are also to join Opera North in pre-performance talks to give audiences a deeper insight into the art form.
Outreach
The collaboration has also begun to inspire a passion for opera and the arts in the community through an active outreach programme, making it accessible and relevant to new audiences, particularly young people. The University has started to work alongside Opera North in school and community projects and a communications drive started with the new academic year, including promotion at student freshers’ fairs.
University staff have been engaging in the art form through open days, ticket schemes and competitions, a joint stand and opera performance at the University all-staff festival and consideration is being given to a University staff ambassador scheme.
Opera North staff are encouraged to enjoy University concerts and activities through ticket offers and competitions.
Igniting operatic spark - Reporter
http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/524/s10.htm