Zen and the Art of being Brünnhilde - Notes on Wagnerian Metaphysics
with musical illustrations by Rachel Nicholls and Kelvin Lim
Arrivals from 7pm. The event will begin promptly at 7.30pm, and will be followed by drinks and canapés.
Please join us for this exclusive in-person event.
Wagner's Brünnhilde is neither a passive saint nor a dominating force, and yet is arguably the ethical centre of the composer's entire Ring. Nicholas Spice, Consulting Publisher at the London Review of Books and author of "Is Wagner Bad for Us?", explores the metaphysics and art of being Brünnhilde.
Nicholas is joined for musical illustrations by Longborough's Ring cycle répétiteur Kelvin Lim and soprano Rachel Nicholls, Longborough's Brünnhilde in the 2013 Ring.
Read Is Wagner Bad for Us? at the London Review of Books website.
Nicholas Spice is Consulting Publisher at the London Review of Books. He was Publisher at the LRB from 1982 until 2021, where he has also been a frequent contributor, writing essays on literature, music and psychoanalysis. Most recently, he has written about Wagner and the history of orchestral conducting. Nicholas Spice is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Rachel Nicholls is now widely recognised as one of the most exciting dramatic sopranos of her generation. She was born in Bedford and in 2013 was awarded an Opera Awards Foundation Bursary to study with Dame Anne Evans.
Recent and future engagements include Isolde, Tristan und Isolde for the Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Rome, Turin, Karlsruhe, the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra and Grange Park Opera as well as in concert with the Sao Paolo Symphony Orchestra, the title role in Elektra for Basel, Karlsruhe and Münster, Brünnhilde/Die Walküre, in a new production for ENO, Brünnhilde/Siegfried in concert with the Hallé (recently released on CD), Brünnhilde/Göttterdämmerung in Taiwan, Jenifer/A Midsummer Marriage in concert with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Fidelio for Lithuanian National Opera, Guinevere Gawain for the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Lady Macbeth/Macbeth for Karlsruhe and NI Opera, and Eva/Die Meistersinger for Karlsruhe and ENO.
She is also in demand as a concert artist and has worked with orchestras throughout Europe and the Far East and in recital at venues including Wigmore Hall, London. Recordings include Siegfried and Elgar’s The Spirit of England with the Hallé, a wide repertoire with Bach Collegium Japan and Tippett’s Third Symphony for Chandos.
Kelvin Lim trained at the RCM and has worked for companies including: ROH, ENO, Glyndebourne, Opera Holland Park, Grange Park, ETO, Longborough, NI Opera, Neville Holt, Iford & BYO. He is Musical Director of Opera Scenes and Vocal Coach at Trinity Laban, and has coached for Jette Parker Young Artists. Kelvin is recipient of the Bayreuth Bursary, and has accompanied Sir John Tomlinson, Sir Thomas Allen and Stuart Skelton, worked with Aïda Garifullina, Christopher Ventris, & Nelly Miriciou, and played in masterclass with Sir Antonio Pappano. His company Opera Forge performed for the Wagner 200 celebrations at the Royal Festival Hall.
Conductor: Carmen (ROH Education/Olympic Arena) Cavelleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci, Samson et Dalila, The Turn of the Screw, Norma, Otello, La Fille du Regiment and Acis and Galatea, Beatrice et Benedict, La bohème, Così fan tutte, Amahl and the Night Visitors. Assistant Conductor: Der fliegende Hollander (Anthony Negus), Don Giovanni, Un ballo in Maschera, Albert Herring (Steuart Bedford), Rape of Lucretia, A Christmas Carol (Trinity). Chorus Master: Opera Holland Park, Chelsea Opera Group; The Mastersingers, Dorset Opera. Future engagements: Jenufa, Saul (Aylesbury Opera), Die Walküre, assistant cond. Così fan tutte (Longborough), assistant cond. La bohème (Winslow Hall).