Opera Essays

“Speaking Opera: André de Ridder, Mahagonny, and the Future of the English National Opera. Dr Justin Vickers discusses Kurt Weill and the Next Chapter with its Music Director-Designate” (February 2026)

“‘Love is a Battlefield’: Dr Justin Vickers speaks with eminent director Christopher Alden about the revival of his 2008 production of Handel’s Partenope (1730)” (November 2025)

“Longing to Belong: The World Première of Missy Mazzoli’s and Royce Vavrek’s The Listeners” examining the international co-production (March–April 2025)

“First the Music: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s Radical Method” examining the French director-designer’s methodology and his internationally acclaimed 1969 production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola (January–February 2024)

“A rich history of commedia dell’arte as inspiration: Justin Vickers discusses Sergei Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges” (July 2023) in Des Moines Metro Opera’s 2023 Festival Season Program Book

“Seventy-Five Years On: ‘Why not have an Aldeburgh Festival?’” in the 2022 Aldeburgh Festival Programme Book (Commissioned by Sir Roger Wright, CEO of the Aldeburgh Festival and Britten Pears Arts, 3–26 June 2022)

“Making Joy Look Effortless: Dr Justin Vickers in conversation with Cal McCrystal about reviving H.M.S. Pinafore for ENO” (November 2025)

“Medea and Jason: Operatic Fire and Fury in Luigi Cherubini’s Medea” (October 2025)

“The Dangers Before Her: Justin Vickers discusses Thea Musgrave’s long-silent masterpiece, Mary, Queen of Scots” (February 2025)

“Listening to Callas: Justin Vickers discusses ‘La Divina’ and the context preceding Marina Abramović’s 7 Deaths of Maria Callas” (November 2023)

“Joy denied. Surviving ‘one more peaceful protest’: Justin Vickers discusses Tesori and Thompson’s Blue” (April–May 2023)

“Reflecting back and looking forward. Justin Vickers discusses Heggie and Scheer’s It’s A Wonderful Life” (November–December 2022)