OBERTO is the opera research unit @oxford_brookes. Follow us for news on our research, media & outreach work.
Joined April 2013
- Tweets 2,103
- Following 2,591
- Followers 1,593
- Likes 684
Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
17 Nov 2023
OBERTO regulars will, we're sure, be appalled to read this. Opera has always been a strength at Brookes, in terms of publications, awards, research income, and our OBERTO events have created vital connections between academia and the opera industry. They are completely unique.
16 Nov 2023
We are sad to share with you the news that Oxford Brookes University has decided to close its music department. Below a statement from the music team - we are all devastated.
4
12
36
9,463
5 May 2025
Obviously our opera research unit is no more, because the staff members involved were made redundant, but we thought followers might like to read about this, which connects to many of the themes discussed at our conferences over the years. Please buy Alex's book!
18 Apr 2025
Available to pre-order! My new book, "Someone Else's Music: Opera and the British" traces attitudes towards opera, 1920-2020.
It reveals a forgotten history of popular opera-going, which challenges the elitism stereotype. It also examines when and why that stereotype arose. /
3
17
1,096
31 May 2024
A lot of Wagner stuff on that shelf!
5
646
OBERTO retweeted
27 May 2024
Just grasped that this is an opera. Of course, we have a much-admired opera research unit at Brookes, @ObertoBrookes, which will cease to be when we are made redundant next week. Did @ignatius_sancho even know about it, I wonder? We could have worked together. @BarbaraEichner
1
1
2
418
OBERTO retweeted
27 May 2024
Each year our @ObertoBrookes conferences addressed pressing issues in the opera industry and the many creative initiatives opera companies are undertaking today. My own research reveals a whole hidden history of working-class opera in the UK. Many missed opportunities here.
2
5
393
OBERTO retweeted
19 Apr 2024
Congratulations to music prof Alexandra Wilson, whose new book has taken an important hurdle! Good luck with the final leap!
#opera #elitism #britishhistory #musicology
@ObertoBrookes @brookes_oa @oxford_brookes
19 Apr 2024
Contract signed so I think I can make this public now. OUP will publish my book "Someone Else's Music: Opera and the British". I examine British attitudes towards opera, 1920-2020, reveal a forgotten history of popular opera going, and trace the rise of the elitism stereotype.
2
4
16
1,478
OBERTO retweeted
8 Feb 2024
Young lad next to me @southbankcentre got his ticket for a fiver. Such good value and a fabulous concert. Rachmaninov 2 was stupendous and I enjoyed those tricky Strauss songs. Heart warming to chat to a youngster with a passion for classical music
3
4
39
1,740
OBERTO retweeted
14 Feb 2024
Every time I see this, I think "Il tabarro".
14 Feb 2024
'The Towpath', Maida Hill Tunnel (1912) by Christopher RW Nevinson
(Ashmolean Museum, Oxford)
3
2
67
4,251
OBERTO retweeted
14 Feb 2024
Our series of staff spotlights continues. Meet Dr Matt Lawson, Senior Lecturer in Music and specialist for film music, especially all things John Williams!
1
3
14
883
15 Feb 2024
At Brookes we have always had an excellent track record of introducing young people to opera for the first time - in some cases giving them a potentially lifelong source of enjoyment. If the BA Music closes, as currently planned, all this stops.
14 Feb 2024
Happy faces after "The Barber of Seville" at the London Coliseum. What better way to spend Valentine's Day than a study trip to the opera?
#opera
1
9
25
5,470
OBERTO retweeted
14 Feb 2024
Happy faces after "The Barber of Seville" at the London Coliseum. What better way to spend Valentine's Day than a study trip to the opera?
#opera
3
21
3,661
OBERTO retweeted
15 Jan 2024
Channel 4, opera from Glyndebourne
15 Jan 2024
Following the success of Gladiators, which 90s show would you reboot?
3
79
4,872
OBERTO retweeted
8 Jan 2024
We are introducing a new series of posts highlighting the wonderful staff that make up the Music team at Brookes!
Today's Staff Spotlight: Prof Alexandra Wilson
(Professor of Music and Cultural History) @amwilson_opera @ObertoBrookes @obuengagement @oxford_brookes
2
16
42
3,369
7 Dec 2023
UNESCO awards world heritage status to Italian opera! Take that, Herr Wagner!
bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-…
1
8
423
OBERTO retweeted
30 Nov 2023
ISM Chief Executive @deborahannetts and members of the ISM Council have written to Oxford Brookes, calling on them to reconsider their ‘deeply concerning’ decision to close their music department.
Read the letters in full 👇
1
13
24
4,119
OBERTO retweeted
30 Nov 2023
.@RoyalHistSoc has today issued a statement on the proposed cuts and closures @oxfordbrookes in #History & other depts bit.ly/40YVjut
These cuts are extensive. They risk the future of staff students, and the very research culture for which Brookes historians are known.
ALT Opening section of Royal Historical Society statement on Oxford Brookes University/
11
231
345
117,678
27 Nov 2023
Without a music department at Brookes, there won't be an OBERTO opera research group! Please sign the petition, set up by Brookes music students, if you support music education and opera research at Brookes! #savemusicatbrookes #savebrookesmusic #opera
change.org/p/save-music-at-o…
1
21
36
5,802
OBERTO retweeted
22 Nov 2023
Can you spare a moment to help @musicatbrookes @ObertoBrookes @CraigyNdot @amwilson_opera @BarbaraEichner et al? Please share & consider how this shapes our creative ecology. Help them have a voice by using ours #music #opera #learning #research #teaching chng.it/xVDRXwpbqN
1
8
17
1,945
OBERTO retweeted
20 Nov 2023
Please keep sending your thoughts on the Brookes music closure to the VC and governors. A 12-month reprieve for all staff to develop new programmes would really help us. Steady stream of letters good - keep them coming.
20 Nov 2023
'it is profoundly worrying to see opportunities to study music in the UK being further reduced'
ISM Chief Executive @DeborahAnnetts urges Oxford Brookes to reconsider their decision to close their music department in @CMU 👇
completemusicupdate.com/oxfo…
1
33
55
11,919
OBERTO retweeted
20 Nov 2023
.@ianpacemain deplores that many music academics live in continual fear for their jobs
thecritic.co.uk/dont-stop-th…
4
6
1,631