Misogyny in opera

'Is opera the most misogynistic art form?' asked Charlotte Higgins in The Guardian back in 2016, noting that the genre itself seems to devour women. In Classical Music Magazine in 2020, Becca Marriott argued that 'Sexism is preventing women from forging a career in opera'. Over the course of the next episodes, we are looking at how voices in opera are calling for change to make it better for the next generation of operatic talent. In this episode, we investigate misogyny in opera both on the stage and behind the scenes, and investigate the lived experience of artists who are striving to make the opera world a place where everyone feels welcome, respected and safe.

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Watch now on Opera Vision

Oper Frankfurt From Studio to Stage

Opera for Peace Masterclasses with Ailyn Perez & Brian Jagde

Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini), Rossini Opera Festival Accademia Rossiniana

BBC Cardiff Singer of the World with Nombulelo Yende

Dana Lynne Varga www.danavarga.com

The Empowered Musician https://theempoweredmusician.com/

Mass Opera https://massopera.org/

Rosie Middleton https://rosiemiddleton.com/

Derri Joseph Lewis https://derrijosephlewis.com/

Music extracts

Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture

Bizet 'L'amour est un oiseau rebelle' (Habanera) from Carmen with mezzo-soprano Evgenia Asanova at the Staatsoper Hannover. Watch extract here

Massenet 'Je marche sur tous les chemins' from Manon with soprano Elsa Dreisig at the Hamburg State Opera. Watch extract here

Donizetti 'Regnava nel silenzio' from Lucia di Lammermoor with soprano Lisette Oropesa at the Teatro Real Madrid. Watch full extract here