Music: Opera in Focus: Verdi and Wagner

Verdi and Wagner are giants in the world of opera. Their output was (one way or another) vast and deeply influential, and is essential listening for anyone who wants to know more about the genre. Yet it might also seem odd to place them side-by-side: the lyrical Italian tunesmith behind Il Trovatore and La Traviata might at first glance seem to have nothing at all in common with the densely philosophical Germanic creator of such monoliths as Der Ring des Nibelungen and Parsifal. However, their sources of influence, the times they lived through, and their deep concern over issues such as text, drama, and national identity overlap more than we might expect.

This course explores lives of these two composers in parallel, moving from their inspirations in the early nineteenth century all the way through to the heights of their fame and to their late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century successors. Newcomers will get to know the full range of work from both, while those who already know some of these operas will have plenty to discover about their social and historical context, and may well be surprised at how much these two composers have in common in spite of their different musical styles. 

This 10-week course is suitable for people with or without previous knowledge of opera, though it makes a particularly good next step for those who have already taken the Discovering Opera course.

All classes will be supported by a PowerPoint presentation and plenty of audio and video examples of the operas, and there will opportunities for discussion around the material too, with all opinions welcome.

This classroom-taught course is offered in partnership with the KCWC, but is open to everyone.

Term dates

•  Summer Term: week beginning 20 April 2026 until week ending 10 July 2026 (no class on 4 and 25 May 2026)

Any questions?

If you have any questions about the content of this course please contact the tutor, Dr Bruno Bower at b.bower@imperial.ac.uk

If you have any questions about enrolment please contact the Imperial after:hours Administrator, Christian Jacobi at c.jacobi@imperial.ac.uk

Class Recordings

These classes are not recorded

Attendance Certificate

Successful completion of this course leads to the award of an Imperial College attendance certificate

Terms and conditions apply to all enrolments to this course. Please read them before enrolment