Curating Opera: Reinventing the Past Through Museums of Opera and Art

The purpose of this study is to explore the curatorial forces at work within the modern opera house and to examine the functionaries and processes that guide them. It compares the workings of the traditional art museum with the opera house, identifying and describing curatorial roles and the role of the celebrity art curator. It also considers the transformation of the opera house into the operatic museum and explores communalities and synergies in the way works are defined in each institution. The study will highlight aspects of authenticity, authorial intent, preservation, restoration and historically informed performance practice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 29 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Curation, as a concept and a buzzword in modern parlance, has seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of contemporary culture. Its significance lies in delving into the curatorial forces that shape the modern opera house and exploring the individuals and processes that guide them. In doing so, comparisons are drawn with the workings of the traditional art museum, where artworks are studied, preserved, restored, displayed, and contextualized. These processes, too, are present in the opera house, albeit in unique ways.

Within each institution, distinct curatorial roles are identified and described, shedding light on the diverse responsibilities of those involved in the art-preservation and -presentation process. The role of the celebrity art curator is juxtaposed with that of the modern stage director, who has gained unprecedented license to interrogate operatic works, overlaying them with new concepts and layers of meaning to reinvent and redefine the operatic repertoire for contemporary needs. A point of convergence between the opera house and the art museum emerges, marked by the transformation of the opera house into the operatic museum towards the end of the nineteenth century.

Curatorial practices within the opera house are examined, revealing further communalities and synergies in how "works" are defined in both institutions. This study also delves into the so-called "birth of opera" at the beginning of the seventeenth century, coinciding with the rise of the modern art museum. By tracing the operatic practice and performance history over the past 400 years, it identifies the curatorial practices that have historically been employed in the maintenance and development of the repertoire.

This examination of the forces of curation within the modern opera house will highlight aspects of authenticity, authorial intent, preservation, restoration, and historically informed approaches. It serves as a valuable exploration of the dynamic interplay between art, culture, and the ever-evolving needs of audiences, contributing to our understanding of the rich and evolving landscape of contemporary opera.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367698096