Opera enthusiasts, academics, and industry professionals will convene in Newcastle from 3-5 September for Opera Unplugged, a three-day international conference celebrating the art, history, and enduring appeal of opera.

Set in the historic Grade I-listed Tyne Theatre and Opera House, the conference opens with a keynote from renowned baritone Sir Thomas Allen, offering personal reflections from his distinguished operatic career.

Highlights include a special presentation by Tommaso Sabbatini on the meticulous editing of a landmark 1903 Tosca at Paris's Opéra-Comique, and Hannah Scott's exploration of Scottish identity expressed through costume on the Parisian operatic stage.

Participants will also engage with rare historical insights, including discussions on Oscar Barrett’s works The Corsican Brothers and The Lancashire Lass, alongside an exclusive opening of the Carl Rosa Opera Exhibition featuring rarely-seen artefacts.

Former Royal Opera House Director Nicholas Payne will deliver a keynote focusing on opera policy and advocacy, while groundbreaking research on Venice’s Teatro San Cassiano – the world’s first public opera house – will be presented by Paul Atkin and Jon Greenfield.

Other unique opportunities include a live demonstration of historic stage lighting techniques and a guided tour of the theatre's exceptional Victorian stage machinery. The conference will conclude with sessions exploring opera-ballet traditions, opera prompting practices, and gender dynamics in the German operatic tradition.

'This conference positions Newcastle and our magnificent theatre at the heart of global operatic discourse,' commented conference curator Dr David Wilmore. 'We are excited to bring together diverse perspectives in a vibrant, interdisciplinary celebration of opera’s past and future.'

For the gull programme details, visit tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/operaunplugged.