Blog » Expressive Arts

12 Mar 2009  6th form NHS workshop

Tagged in: health and social care / 

Sixth Form students studying Health and Social Care attended  a NHS conference at  Aston Villa Football ground.

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Posted By: Ms Jagpal

10 Mar 2009  Atomic Opera!

Tagged in: music / history / WWII / english / 

I wonder how many of you have ever watched or listened to an opera. I wouldn't second guess you. Perhaps some of you have. What I am sure of though, is that right now you may be mentally holding one hand over your chest, whilst with your other arm outstretched and jaw wide open, you are letting out a ridiculous "Ahhhhhhhhhh".

That's what many members of my form, 8.4 did when I said we were going to watch a clip from "Peter Grimes". Do you know what? They really liked it.

Like most grown up art forms, opera can take a bit of time and effort to get to understand, but the end result is certainly worth the struggle... if that's what it is. You open the doors to a whole world of music, drama and emotion beyond anything you have ever experienced, or even imagined.

This Saturday I went to see the English National Opera production of a fairly new piece by the leading American composer, John Adams. (yes, operas are being written right now!) "Doctor Atomic" depicts two days before the test detonation of the worlds first atom bomb in the dying days of WWII. The scientist in charge of this project, J. Robert Oppenheimer is the 'Doctor' of the title and the opera deals with the moral and political dilemmas felt by those involved in this project.

Here is Gerald Finley, the man for whom Adams wrote the role of Oppenheimer, singing the aria (song within an opera) that ends Act  I. It is a setting of the Holy Sonnet XIV, by John Donne.

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Posted By: Mr Golden