OPERA STUDIES EVENTS
“Divas & Scholars makes learning about this most complex of art forms a richly enjoyable pleasure.”
Rupert Christiansen, Opera Critic, The Telegraph
“Divas & Scholars is an excellent project!”
Jason Orange, Take That
“An entertaining and informative way to get inside the world of opera.”
Danielle de Niese, Glyndebourne
Welcome
Divas & Scholars creates events for people interested in learning more about opera. We introduce you to celebrated opera insiders who share their insights and experiences of this compelling and multi-layered art form. We combine fascinating talks with live performances and the opportunity to meet personally with opera luminaries in a relaxed social setting. You can discuss opera over dinner or a drinks reception with our star speakers and opera singers.
Whether you are new to the art form or are already an aficionado you will hear beautiful music, be entertained and will learn something new from our experts. We have hosted speakers including the international diva and chatelaine of Glyndebourne Danielle de Niese, the globally esteemed opera director and former Principle Resident Director of the Royal Opera House John Copley CBE and the conductor and former Director of Music at the English National Opera, Edward Gardner OBE.
We have been arranging seminars and performances, master-classes, opera parties and courses since 2011. Our first Opera Studies Series in association with the National Opera Studio began in 2015. The key events were ten evening seminars with performances given by the National Opera Studio Young Artists. We teamed these young artists with established opera luminaries at each event. Recently we offered a series of very popular evenings at the exclusive Club at The Ivy. This was a pre- opera festival series highlighting The Grange Festival. Artistic Director Michael Chance CBE lead the discussions with conductors and directors and illustrative recitals were given by members of the cast from their 2017 season.
We are proud to present many young opera singers and rising stars of the future at our events giving them a new platform and performance opportunities working alongside established performers.
Director, Lucy Woodruff BA (hons), MA
Video of some recent events.
Events
Charles Castronovo evening at Tramp, 22nd September
Divas & Scholars is thrilled to announce an evening with one of the opera world's most sought after tenors, Charles Castronovo. Join us for this not to be missed event at London's most decadent nightclub Tramp, for a recital of some of the great tenor arias, an interview and dinner with this famous artist.
Venue: Tramp, Jermyn Street, London SW1
Date: 22nd September 2022
Claire Booth, Summer opera evening.
Divas & Scholars would like to introduce you to the acclaimed British soprano Claire Booth. Claire is renowned as an established artist with a reputation for an extraordinary breadth of repertoire from Baroque to contemporary works. 30th June. London
Alexandra Lowe. Royal Opera House Young Artist.
Meet Alexandra Lowe, soprano for an evening of arias, an interview and dinner. Alexandra will sing music from her roles and talk about her repertoire, about singing and life at Covent Garden as a Jette Parker Young Artist.
News
Exclusive opera festival tour – Florence 2021
September 24, 2020
Opera Travel with Divas & Scholars
We are happy to announce a new collaboration with an established cultural tour operator.
Lucy will be leading fabulous adventures to exciting opera houses and international music festivals.
We are busy making plans for 2020. Stay tuned...
October 10, 2019
Mozart Circle Interviews Lucy about Mozart and Le Nozze di Figaro evening
Many thanks to the Mozart Circle for asking me to write an account of our evening on Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and for interviewing me about Divas & Scholars, my life in Vienna, my thoughts about books and films on Mozart and more. I hope you enjoy it! Divas & Scholars’ next Mozartian event will be on Don Giovanni on 3rd June 2019.
http://mozartcircle.porticodoro.com/mzc/interviews/?Id=January2019
August 28, 2019





