We aim to be the world leaders in:
- Research into opera
- Research through opera
- Research for opera
The University of Leeds and Opera North bring a wealth of expertise in the theory and practice of opera and theatre and their cultural context. Our research programme combines traditional research and scholarship in the arts, sciences and technology, and practice-based or practice-led research.
EU Culture Programme
Research into the impact of legislation
New collaborative PhDs
Doctoral research
EU Culture Programme
The collaboration’s first anniversary was celebrated with the news that funding had been awarded by the European Union Culture Co-operation Programme towards a two year project with huge potential for the understanding and practice of opera.
The University, Opera North, Bregenz Opera Festival Austria, the Sibelius Institute Finland and the Theatre Academy Shanghai, will explore different aspects of the many traditions that make up European and Chinese opera.
Entitled Operatic Encounters: Common Voices, this project will enhance the skills and knowledge of participants and the wider community through a programme of research, education and exchange.
Joint activities, including creative workshops and educational events involving young people in China, Austria and the UK will be facilitated by artistic and academic specialists from all partners.
Public performances and master classes will engage the wider community and results will be shared with the global audience online.
Due for completion in 2010, this partnership will lay the foundations for exciting international projects in the future.
Research into the impact of legislation on musicians and academics
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations (2005) will come into force for the music and entertainment sectors from April 2008. A research project
currently underway is exploring the likely impact of this legislation on professional musicians and academics. The project aims to develop a more
detailed understanding of the sound levels that musicians are exposed to during the working day in various environments including the Opera North
pit in The Grand Theatre and Opera House Leeds and various concert halls. It is hoped that the outcomes of the research will be of positive benefit
to musicians and to organisations involved in the performance of live music.
Two collaborative PhDs
Funding from Arts and Humanities Research Council has been awarded for two collaborative PhDs exploring opera as adaptation.
The first, entitled 'Adaptation and the Libretto', began in the autumn of 2007 and is held by Adam Strickson. It is supervised
by Dr Kara McKechnie in the School of Performance and Cultural Industries and Dr Rachel Cowgill in the School of Music.
A second studentship will commence in 2008.
Doctoral research
Doctoral research is currently being undertaken in the School of Music by Opera North cellist George Kennaway on Nineteenth-century
cello performance practice and by member of Opera North Music Staff Martin Pickard on J. N. von Poissl and the early 19th-Century
quest for a typical German Opera.
