If you want to learn about opera, whether you are familiar with the genre or just beginning to enjoy it, then this two-part course will offer you new ways of listening to opera, by exploring a wide variety of operas and their social and cultural contexts, ranging from the eighteenth century to the present day.

The course will introduce the various elements of opera production in the first term (Part A), and will explore some of the more general ideas around opera in the second term (Part B). In each class we will take a single work as a case study, outlining some of the general history of the composer and of the background to the opera, discussing the plot, the characters, the music, and different approaches to staging.

The two courses that make up this series (Part A: 29 September – 1 December; and Part B: 12 January – 30 March) are open to all and you do not need any previous knowledge or qualifications to join the class, which will be supported by a PowerPoint presentation, plenty of audio and video examples of the operas, and many opportunities for discussion.  Following each class, the presentation and video links will be sent to participants, so you will still have the information, if you miss a class.

The tutor, Dr Bruno Bower (FHEA, FRSA), is a lively and enthusiastic tutor whose love of music is infectious. He is a musicologist, performer, composer, and music editor, as well as a highly experienced teacher. He currently teaches at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Imperial College London. He is also the principal oboist of West London Sinfonia and the cor anglais player for Chelsea Opera Group.

Part A: Lectures will take place on the following Mondays (in 2025)

September: 29th

October: 6th, 13th, 20th, (half-term break)

November: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th

December: 1st

(Part B: Lectures will take place on Mondays 12 January – 30 March)

Tickets: Each course Part is payable in advance and the cost includes tea/coffee and biscuits.  You may purchase the Part A series for £180 using the instructions below.  The Part B series may be purchased for £220 on the Event page for January 12th, 2026 “Discovering Opera – Part B”

This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #1: Please make your payment directly to Imperial College using the following link – https://estore.imperial.ac.uk/browse/product-selection?product-token=7caf1964230865463ad058d82ddd2cc5

Step #2: Please use the normal KCWC ticket purchase process in the “Tickets” section below (there is no additional charge, but we need you registered for tracking and communication purposes)