Opera Prelude:Happily Never After – why are we so drawn to operatic tragedy?

Rosie Clifford (mezzo) accompanied by Natalie Burch on piano.

Tosca, plummeting to her doom from the roof of the Castel Sant’Angelo; Juliette, stabbing herself to be reunited with her dying lover Romeo; Rodrigo, shot in front of his powerless best friend; opera is full of beloved characters meeting grisly ends and sad endings, and audiences can’t get enough! What is it about watching misery onstage that so appeals to our collective psyche?

In this lecture, Rosie Clifford will take us on a voyage through the history of tragedy, from its earliest roots in Greek drama, right up to the present day. It’s clear that as audiences, we gain a sense of catharsis from watching characters undergo the worst possible events; why is this, and why does opera in particular embrace this so completely?.

Opera Prelude is a small charity passionate about supporting young professional opera singers who give lecture recitals in London. These friendly and inclusive events will introduce you to the international opera singers of tomorrow by way of recitals, concerts and masterclasses.