To survive economically as well as culturally, composers, librettists and singers have always had to be politically astute as well as artistically creative. In this course we will consider the implications for their work, focusing primarily on Louis XIV’s patronage of Jean-Baptiste Lully; the role of Verdi in the 19th-century Italian Risorgimento; the complex politics of Wagner and the current dilemmas facing Russian singers and musicians. To complement our discussions, there will also be some great performances for us to enjoy!
Lessons:
