Is Opera Dying, or Have We Stopped Thinking? With Katie Glass

ABOUT KATIE GLASS

Katie's website:
https://katie-glass.co.uk/

Katie's articles for The Standard:
https://www.standard.co.uk/author/katie-glass

Katie's features and investigations:
https://katie-glass.co.uk/features.html

KATIE'S JOURNALISM MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE

Yes, opera has an age problem — because society has an education problem

The article that inspired our conversation, examining opera's ageing audience, arts education, reading and cultural confidence.
https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/opera-education-problem-b1293322.html

Katie's other writing

Her work covers subjects including feminism and strip clubs, flower shows, class, and life during lockdown.
https://katie-glass.co.uk/

Katie's reporting on the Post Office scandal

Her account of reporting on the subpostmasters' experiences and the eventual television adaptation:
https://www.the-independent.com/news/post-office-inquiry-alan-bates-b2525638.html

THE EUROVISION PERFORMANCES

We encourage you to watch these performances before listening to our discussion.

1. Australia, 2019 — Kate Miller-Heidke, Zero Gravity

A classically trained singer combining pop and operatic vocal technique with one of Eurovision's most spectacular staging concepts.

Eurovision artist profile:
https://eurovision.tv/participant/kate-miller-heidke

Performance video (ABC):
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-19/kate-miller-heidke-performs-zero-gravity-at/11127750

1. Albania, 2012 — Rona Nishliu, Suus

An intensely emotional performance, notable for its demanding vocal range, dramatic delivery and unusual musical structure.

Eurovision 2012:
https://eurovision.tv/event/baku-2012

1. Luxembourg, 1973 — Anne-Marie David, Tu te reconnaîtras

The winning entry from 1973, performed with the live orchestra that was once central to Eurovision. We discuss its musical construction, David's voice and the commitment of the performance.

Eurovision 1973:
https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1973

1. Ukraine, 2021 — Go_A, Shum

A fusion of Ukrainian folk traditions and electronic music, featuring Kateryna Pavlenko's striking vocal technique.

Official Eurovision profile, music video and lyrics:
https://eurovision.tv/participant/go-a-2021

OTHER EUROVISION REFERENCES

JJ — Wasted Love (Austria, 2025)

Austria's Eurovision-winning operatic pop performance, discussed as an example of the crossover between classical singing and contemporary popular music.
https://eurovision.tv/event/basel-2025

Eurovision Song Contest 2022 — Turin

The contest Bradley attended, and the starting point for our discussion of the practical costs of Eurovision tourism.
https://eurovision.tv/event/turin-2022

OPERA, THEATRE AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

Glyndebourne

The English opera festival that inspired Katie's article, famous for its productions, formal dress and long picnic interval.
https://www.glyndebourne.com/

Glyndebourne Encore — watch recorded productions:
https://www.glyndebourne.com/encore/

Marquee TV

The streaming service Bradley mentions for watching opera, theatre, dance and other performances at home.
https://www.marquee.tv/

Royal Opera House / Royal Ballet and Opera:
https://www.rbo.org.uk/

Los Angeles Opera:
https://www.laopera.org/

British Museum:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Royal Horticultural Society — Chelsea Flower Show:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show

FESTIVALS, AUDIENCES AND ACCESSIBILITY

Glastonbury Festival

Katie compares the cost and cultural identity of attending Glastonbury with Eurovision and opera.
https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/

Burning Man

Another event discussed in relation to the financial and cultural commitments involved in attending.
https://burningman.org/

THE BRITISH POST OFFICE SCANDAL

Katie's investigation focused on the human consequences of the Horizon scandal, in which subpostmasters were wrongly accused of financial wrongdoing following problems with the Post Office's accounting system.

We discuss the loss of livelihoods, reputations, homes and community standing, and the importance of telling the personal stories behind a complicated institutional failure.

Mr Bates vs The Post Office — ITV:
https://www.itv.com/watch/mr-bates-vs-the-post-office/10a0469

ITV production press pack:
Includes producer Natasha Bondy's account of reading Katie's article and recognising that the story needed a dramatic adaptation.
https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/sites/default/files/2023-12/ITV%20Mr%20Bates%20vs%20the%20Post%20Office%20Press%20Pack.pdf

Katie's first-person account of the reporting and the drama:
https://www.the-independent.com/news/post-office-inquiry-alan-bates-b2525638.html

Eurovision Song Context:
https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm/