Olivia Childe
Music Postgraduate Research Student
Olivia Childe is a PhD student in music. Her thesis is titled “History as Legitimacy: Operatic Revivals and Colonial Legacies in the Paris Opéra, 1828-1883”. This thesis explores the use of revivals in the Paris Opéra as a way to promote colonial idealogy, and subsequently how this revival culture was then understood by patrons of the Opéra at the time. Olivia Childe specialises more broadly in opera and the musical stage in Paris, and their respective political entanglements throughout the long-nineteenth century. Her research interests include: Reception theory, the Paris Opéra, French Colonial History, French Musical Culture in the Long-Nineteenth Century, Music in Wartime, and Opera and Politics.
Newcastle University Email: o.childe2@newcastle.ac.uk
Supervisors: Prof Ian Biddle, Dr Charlotte Bentley and Dr Katherine Hambridge
Research Project Title: History as Legitimacy: Operatic Revivals and Colonial Legacies in the Paris Opéra, 1828-1883
Brief Outline of Research Project:
This study investigates the nexus between the Paris Opéra's revival culture and French colonial politics in the mid-nineteenth century. It examines alterations in productions, stakeholders' perceptions, and audience reception to shed light on how these revivals shaped attitudes towards colonialism. Drawing on archival research and reception studies, it analyzes the impact of subtle modifications in libretto, music, and staging on historical narratives. By encompassing diverse audience perspectives, including those from personal diaries and correspondence, it provides insights into the socio-political dynamics of opera during this transformative period, thus offering a nuanced understanding of French cultural identity and its colonial ties.
Research Interests:
- French Musical Culture in the Long-Nineteenth Century
- The Paris Opéra
- Opera and Politics
- French Colonial History
- Reception Theory
- Music in Wartime