Wishing to involve the opera community in constructive debate, it is teaming up with Opera Europa to present an Opera and Media Day to provide a focus for Opera Intendants, IAMA members and the Media industry on the preliminary day Wednesday 9 April. This will be the first time that our two associations have collaborated on an event since the conference in Genova in spring 2004.

Kasper Holten, Director of Opera at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, will chair this Opera Day; and he and Nicholas Payne have devised the programme together with the IAMA Board and its Chief Executive Atholl Swainston-Harrison.

David Pountney has agreed to give the opening address, and Eva Kleinitz will moderate the morning debate about The Next Generation of Artists. Rejuvenation of the art form depends on those who interpret the canon of repertoire but, despite all the opportunity around for young artists, there are warning signals that not all is well. Whether for opera house, young artist programme, singing competition, artist manager or the artist, there are new challenges to share in developing the next generation so that opera has a flourishing future. Join the panel discussion about changes that need to happen.

A prominent guest speaker will offer an outside view at lunchtime.

In the afternoon, the topic will be Media and Opera: damnation or blessing?  This panel will be moderated by Kasper Holten. Exclusivity issues, over-exposure, expense and damage limitation are all part of the mix of media that cause managements to question why we believe opera’s pact with media is important. Whether freely available on the internet or by commissioned public broadcast or DVD sale, there are issues common to all parties involved. What do the next ten years hold and what lessons can we learn from the past decade?

All the information related to this event are to be found here.