This seminar will explore ways of approaching the music of Jean-Philippe Rameau with a view to understanding better, and performing more stylistically, the vocal music in his operas. We will employ techniques of music analysis (the interpretation of metre, rhythmic notation, tonality and dissonance), study the musical sources, and examine eighteenth-century treatises. In a new approach, the seminar will also on draw the early modern literary expertise of Dr Jonathan Patterson (St Hilda's Career Fellow in French) to explore how…

What a great pleasure it has been to welcome William Christie to Oxford as the Humanitas Visiting Professor of Opera 2018-19, and to participate in the lively round-table discussion with him. And his conversation with Edward Higginbottom (in Prologue and 5 Acts format!) was both fascinating and entertaining… Thank you to Michael Burden for organising these memorable events and to the Weisenfeld-Hoffmann Trust for supporting them so generously.`

Come along to hear William Christie, Rameau's greatest champion, and the new Humanitas Visiting Professor of Opera, as he talks about his long and distinguished career. At 2.30pm French Baroque specialist, James Halliday, will survey William Christie's life and work with him and, at 4pm, will be joined by Claire Holden, James Patterson and me to discuss all things Rameau together.

Hugely exciting news - We'll be giving a performance of Rameau's Dardanus at this year's Baroquestock on Friday 3 May... More news soon...!

      The UK premiere of Rameau's sublime masterpiece, Castor et Pollux, in Jonathan's new edition of the original 1737 version. UPDATE We are sorry to have to inform you that due to the uncertainties caused by the COVID pandemic we have regretfully decided to postpone this performance until May 2022. The new date will be confirmed here as soon as possible. CAST Castor (tenor): Rory Carver Pollux (baritone): Jack Lawrence-Jones Phébé (soprano): Galina Averina Télaïre(soprano): Anna Cavaliero Hébé/Spirit:…