Alexandra Wilson
@amwilson.bsky.social
Academic | Author | Cultural commentator
Opera. Classical music. Cultural history. The state of the arts today.
Opera. Classical music. Cultural history. The state of the arts today.
Another ringing endorsement for my new book, this time from Stephen Bush in the Financial Times.
October 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Another ringing endorsement for my new book, this time from Stephen Bush in the Financial Times.
This book means more to me than any other book I have written. I want to get copies into the hands of everyone who cares about opera or is interested in the broader cultural history of our country.
Please consider buying a copy. Thank you. 🙏
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Please consider buying a copy. Thank you. 🙏
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
October 7, 2025 at 12:52 PM
This book means more to me than any other book I have written. I want to get copies into the hands of everyone who cares about opera or is interested in the broader cultural history of our country.
Please consider buying a copy. Thank you. 🙏
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Please consider buying a copy. Thank you. 🙏
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
My author copies arrived! This is my sixth book and the one of which I am most proud: a sweeping history of the British relationship with opera over the last century.
Available in 🇺🇸 this month, on Kindle immediately, and in 🇬🇧 and Europe in October.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Available in 🇺🇸 this month, on Kindle immediately, and in 🇬🇧 and Europe in October.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
July 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
My author copies arrived! This is my sixth book and the one of which I am most proud: a sweeping history of the British relationship with opera over the last century.
Available in 🇺🇸 this month, on Kindle immediately, and in 🇬🇧 and Europe in October.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Available in 🇺🇸 this month, on Kindle immediately, and in 🇬🇧 and Europe in October.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
You can now buy my forthcoming book with 30% off in the UK and USA. All sales greatly appreciated. Thank you! 🙏
July 7, 2025 at 7:56 AM
You can now buy my forthcoming book with 30% off in the UK and USA. All sales greatly appreciated. Thank you! 🙏
A friend shared this with me, and I thought it meant that our former universities COULDN'T get their hands on our items? Have I misunderstood?
June 13, 2025 at 6:31 PM
A friend shared this with me, and I thought it meant that our former universities COULDN'T get their hands on our items? Have I misunderstood?
My dear friend Adriana Festeu is giving this imaginative recital on 23 May. Please share!
May 9, 2025 at 4:24 PM
My dear friend Adriana Festeu is giving this imaginative recital on 23 May. Please share!
*Available to pre-order!*
"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.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
"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.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
April 19, 2025 at 10:49 AM
*Available to pre-order!*
"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.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
"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.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
American opera fans, my book about the history of British attitudes towards opera is now available to preorder! British link to follow. Another lovely cover from OUP.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
March 13, 2025 at 10:17 AM
American opera fans, my book about the history of British attitudes towards opera is now available to preorder! British link to follow. Another lovely cover from OUP.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Thank you. On a cheerier note, here's the book I wrote during my BA mid-career fellowship.
March 13, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Thank you. On a cheerier note, here's the book I wrote during my BA mid-career fellowship.
A reminder about the "Inclusivity of Opera" event at ENO on 26 March. It's free to attend but you need to book. Much discussion about current challenges and I'll be giving a historical overview of how an audience for opera was built earlier in the C20th. www.surrey.ac.uk/events/20250...
March 3, 2025 at 11:55 AM
A reminder about the "Inclusivity of Opera" event at ENO on 26 March. It's free to attend but you need to book. Much discussion about current challenges and I'll be giving a historical overview of how an audience for opera was built earlier in the C20th. www.surrey.ac.uk/events/20250...
In Oxford tonight? Come to the Holywell Music Room at 8pm to hear this fantastic programme of incredibly varied choral music, from the Renaissance to today. Love in many different guises depicted.
February 8, 2025 at 2:36 PM
In Oxford tonight? Come to the Holywell Music Room at 8pm to hear this fantastic programme of incredibly varied choral music, from the Renaissance to today. Love in many different guises depicted.
A super programme of extremely varied and unusual music, and definitely not about love in any soppy "hearts and flowers" sense! It would be great to see some of you Oxford music-lovers at the Holywell Music Room on Saturday night.
February 4, 2025 at 11:27 AM
A super programme of extremely varied and unusual music, and definitely not about love in any soppy "hearts and flowers" sense! It would be great to see some of you Oxford music-lovers at the Holywell Music Room on Saturday night.
Messiah time! The night of the year when I challenge myself to sing without a single glance at the score.
December 21, 2024 at 6:52 PM
Messiah time! The night of the year when I challenge myself to sing without a single glance at the score.
Pleased to have a chapter, on opera and the "man in the street" in 1920s Britain, in here. Book newly out.
December 11, 2024 at 10:41 AM
Pleased to have a chapter, on opera and the "man in the street" in 1920s Britain, in here. Book newly out.
Periodic reminder that there are diligent academic staff doing everything asked of them and then being given NO payout on being made redundant (just the legal statutory minimum, which = c. 3 months pay).
December 9, 2024 at 4:30 PM
Periodic reminder that there are diligent academic staff doing everything asked of them and then being given NO payout on being made redundant (just the legal statutory minimum, which = c. 3 months pay).
Delighted to have a piece in the Review section of today's Telegraph on the far-from straightforward issue of Puccini's treatment of women, in art and in life. Print edition only.
November 23, 2024 at 12:21 PM
Delighted to have a piece in the Review section of today's Telegraph on the far-from straightforward issue of Puccini's treatment of women, in art and in life. Print edition only.
Last man standing.
November 21, 2024 at 1:12 PM
Last man standing.
If you want to get the measure of an academic, don't judge them by where they're employed. My latest for The Critic. thecritic.co.uk/author/alexa...
December 21, 2023 at 9:56 AM
If you want to get the measure of an academic, don't judge them by where they're employed. My latest for The Critic. thecritic.co.uk/author/alexa...
Looking pretty on campus today at Oxford Brookes.
October 30, 2023 at 5:08 PM
Looking pretty on campus today at Oxford Brookes.
A few days at home with family - just the tonic.
October 28, 2023 at 9:06 PM
A few days at home with family - just the tonic.
My new edited book "Puccini in Context" (32 chapters by 20+ authors from around the world) is currently £75.24 on Amazon, down from £90 (still exorbitant, I know...). Chapters on Puccini's life, circle, travels, attitudes, influences, style, legacy and more. www.amazon.co.uk/Puccini-Cont...
October 23, 2023 at 10:12 AM
My new edited book "Puccini in Context" (32 chapters by 20+ authors from around the world) is currently £75.24 on Amazon, down from £90 (still exorbitant, I know...). Chapters on Puccini's life, circle, travels, attitudes, influences, style, legacy and more. www.amazon.co.uk/Puccini-Cont...
Looking forward to singing Britten and Macmillan this evening at Exeter College Oxford. Details here: opms.org.uk Come along!
October 21, 2023 at 11:17 AM
Looking forward to singing Britten and Macmillan this evening at Exeter College Oxford. Details here: opms.org.uk Come along!