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.
Pinned
Alexandra Wilson
@amwilson.bsky.social
· Jul 11
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...
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
'Exiting the market' is such a crap euphemism. It's not like the 'university' will then go and apply all its assets to another market. Those assets (human and non-human) will be dispersed, wasted, destroyed. Un-creative destruction. Which we can't afford as a society.
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:54 AM
'Exiting the market' is such a crap euphemism. It's not like the 'university' will then go and apply all its assets to another market. Those assets (human and non-human) will be dispersed, wasted, destroyed. Un-creative destruction. Which we can't afford as a society.
Really pleased to have had the chance to write for BBC History Magazine for the first time - and to receive prominent billing on the cover! Available from your local newsagent soon.
November 26, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Really pleased to have had the chance to write for BBC History Magazine for the first time - and to receive prominent billing on the cover! Available from your local newsagent soon.
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
'More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries. We need universities like Nottingham to be pumping out Russian and Mandarin graduates each year, to work across Whitehall.' 1/2
The procession of university language closures will trip up UK diplomacy
The government needs to signal its demand for elite foreign language skills before more universities leave provision to inferior alternatives, says Ian Proud
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:57 AM
'More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries. We need universities like Nottingham to be pumping out Russian and Mandarin graduates each year, to work across Whitehall.' 1/2
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
'Skagen.' (1889) Eilif Petersen first visited Skagen in Denmark in 1884 and visited Paris the following year where he saw work by Monet and Alfred Sisley, both of whom had a profound influence in the way he depicted light on sand and moving water.
November 25, 2025 at 8:48 AM
'Skagen.' (1889) Eilif Petersen first visited Skagen in Denmark in 1884 and visited Paris the following year where he saw work by Monet and Alfred Sisley, both of whom had a profound influence in the way he depicted light on sand and moving water.
Finally, after the persistent problems with logistics that have beset my book since publication, I understand that copies are now in the country. The kind people at Blackwell's have been monitoring the situation for me. May I recommend you buy from them? blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/produ…
November 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Finally, after the persistent problems with logistics that have beset my book since publication, I understand that copies are now in the country. The kind people at Blackwell's have been monitoring the situation for me. May I recommend you buy from them? blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/produ…
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
"The humanities really are a resource — a confidence for living in our times.” Dean Sara Guyer on the modern utility of humanities degrees
This interview originally appeared on the Division of Arts
bit.ly
November 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
'Night Lights of Piccadilly'
(from 'This Is London', 1959) by Miroslav Šašek
------
🎵 'Kinky Reggae' by Bob Marley and the Wailers
youtu.be/s0Ds9hec-CY?...
(from 'This Is London', 1959) by Miroslav Šašek
------
🎵 'Kinky Reggae' by Bob Marley and the Wailers
youtu.be/s0Ds9hec-CY?...
November 23, 2025 at 9:02 AM
'Night Lights of Piccadilly'
(from 'This Is London', 1959) by Miroslav Šašek
------
🎵 'Kinky Reggae' by Bob Marley and the Wailers
youtu.be/s0Ds9hec-CY?...
(from 'This Is London', 1959) by Miroslav Šašek
------
🎵 'Kinky Reggae' by Bob Marley and the Wailers
youtu.be/s0Ds9hec-CY?...
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
I am told shipments of my book are on their way by air/sea from the US, as OUP try to meet demand, which has exceeded their expectations. A reprint is also now underway. The key message is, if you want this for Christmas, ORDER IT NOW. It's had glowing reviews.
Also available on Kindle immediately.
Also available on Kindle immediately.
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...
November 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I am told shipments of my book are on their way by air/sea from the US, as OUP try to meet demand, which has exceeded their expectations. A reprint is also now underway. The key message is, if you want this for Christmas, ORDER IT NOW. It's had glowing reviews.
Also available on Kindle immediately.
Also available on Kindle immediately.
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
It's that week again, when all the new intake at Lowestoft's Benjamin Britten Academy get to visit the Red House and find out about their town's most famous native. A busy week for us all but immensely rewarding: with luck they leave here with a sense of ownership about heritage and the arts.
November 17, 2025 at 5:08 PM
It's that week again, when all the new intake at Lowestoft's Benjamin Britten Academy get to visit the Red House and find out about their town's most famous native. A busy week for us all but immensely rewarding: with luck they leave here with a sense of ownership about heritage and the arts.
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
Last month marked my first sustained period of on-site archival research since before the pandemic. Here are a few reflections (1/13).
November 16, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Last month marked my first sustained period of on-site archival research since before the pandemic. Here are a few reflections (1/13).
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
In the northernmost corner of Denmark, the painter Anna Ancher made light her lifelong muse.
Anna Ancher’s language of light | @amwilson.bsky.social
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/anna...
Anna Ancher’s language of light | @amwilson.bsky.social
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/anna...
Anna Ancher's language of light
In the northernmost corner of Denmark, the painter Anna Ancher found the light of Skagen to be her lifelong muse.
engelsbergideas.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:56 AM
In the northernmost corner of Denmark, the painter Anna Ancher made light her lifelong muse.
Anna Ancher’s language of light | @amwilson.bsky.social
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/anna...
Anna Ancher’s language of light | @amwilson.bsky.social
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/anna...
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
Looking forward to talking WAGNER on Friday! With music from soprano Valerija Iljin and pianist Daniel Silcock, at the National Opera Studio.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wagners-wo...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wagners-wo...
Wagner's Women
An exploration of the development of Richard Wagner's early operatic heroines.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Looking forward to talking WAGNER on Friday! With music from soprano Valerija Iljin and pianist Daniel Silcock, at the National Opera Studio.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wagners-wo...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wagners-wo...
Guidelines for the next REF are not out yet but it would be unethical for any university to try to submit the publications of an academic whom they have made redundant. Laying someone off to save money and then exploiting their work for financial gain is immoral. /
nation.cymru/news/victimi...
nation.cymru/news/victimi...
'Victimised' academic says Cardiff University should not use his work in research excellence submission
Martin Shipton A retired academic who believes he was victimised by Cardiff University says it would be unethical for the university to use his publications as part of its submission to be validated a...
nation.cymru
November 9, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Guidelines for the next REF are not out yet but it would be unethical for any university to try to submit the publications of an academic whom they have made redundant. Laying someone off to save money and then exploiting their work for financial gain is immoral. /
nation.cymru/news/victimi...
nation.cymru/news/victimi...
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
Not enough attention is being paid to the effective closure of the bulk of one of the 2 or 3 most important public archives for modern British history. A terrible own goal for the BBC as a public-service agency.
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
WAC wrong-headedness - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some of you will know that I have been very involved over the past months with attempts to reverse the wrong-headed changes to access at the BBC Written Archives Centre (above, with...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Not enough attention is being paid to the effective closure of the bulk of one of the 2 or 3 most important public archives for modern British history. A terrible own goal for the BBC as a public-service agency.
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
One of our students has created a petition. Please sign and share: www.change.org/p/stop-the-s...
November 6, 2025 at 5:27 PM
One of our students has created a petition. Please sign and share: www.change.org/p/stop-the-s...
I am told shipments of my book are on their way by air/sea from the US, as OUP try to meet demand, which has exceeded their expectations. A reprint is also now underway. The key message is, if you want this for Christmas, ORDER IT NOW. It's had glowing reviews.
Also available on Kindle immediately.
Also available on Kindle immediately.
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...
November 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I am told shipments of my book are on their way by air/sea from the US, as OUP try to meet demand, which has exceeded their expectations. A reprint is also now underway. The key message is, if you want this for Christmas, ORDER IT NOW. It's had glowing reviews.
Also available on Kindle immediately.
Also available on Kindle immediately.
I saw this in action. I built up my research profile and thought that would save me if our department were ever for the chop. Surely REF would mean they wouldn't let me go? Wrong. It was the most research-active who were shoved out first.
Most UK HE VCs simply do not care about research, full stop.
Some care about the REF and/or other metrics, but they believe academics are easily replaceable in terms of their role in gaming those metrics.
Some care about the REF and/or other metrics, but they believe academics are easily replaceable in terms of their role in gaming those metrics.
October 30, 2025 at 11:44 AM
I saw this in action. I built up my research profile and thought that would save me if our department were ever for the chop. Surely REF would mean they wouldn't let me go? Wrong. It was the most research-active who were shoved out first.
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
Although senior managers don't care about research, this does not mean that they care about teaching instead.
October 30, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Although senior managers don't care about research, this does not mean that they care about teaching instead.
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.
I'll be on @bbcradio3bot.bsky.social at 6pm, discussing the new Tosca from the Royal Opera with Ian Skelly.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 3 - Opera on 3, Puccini's Tosca
Puccini's Tosca from The Royal Opera starring Anna Netrebko
www.bbc.co.uk
October 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I'll be on @bbcradio3bot.bsky.social at 6pm, discussing the new Tosca from the Royal Opera with Ian Skelly.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
I recently went to the National Portrait Gallery's new Cecil Beaton exhibition and thought it was sublime. Read my review for @engelsbergideas.bsky.social here.
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/the-...
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/the-...
The lure of Beaton's sublime surfaces
From glittering debutantes to screen sirens, Cecil Beaton captured mid-century glamour, blurring portraiture with performance.
engelsbergideas.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:34 PM
I recently went to the National Portrait Gallery's new Cecil Beaton exhibition and thought it was sublime. Read my review for @engelsbergideas.bsky.social here.
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/the-...
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/the-...
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
The interior of the Master’s lodge at Balliol College Oxford. Thanks to Dame Helen Ghosh for exclusive access for our members.
#vicsocagm
#vicsocagm
September 6, 2025 at 12:29 PM
The interior of the Master’s lodge at Balliol College Oxford. Thanks to Dame Helen Ghosh for exclusive access for our members.
#vicsocagm
#vicsocagm
Reposted by Alexandra Wilson
For reasons, it would be v. helpful to have information from a broad range of academic and non-academic (incl. GLAM) users of the BBC Written Archives OTHER THAN historians, briefly on: 1) What you've used it for and 2) How the proposed changes would impact on your research.
Reposts welcomed.
Reposts welcomed.
Historians dismayed by ‘scandal’ of BBC cutting access to...
Critics say new limit to trove of information sounds knell for independent research
observer.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 9:09 AM
For reasons, it would be v. helpful to have information from a broad range of academic and non-academic (incl. GLAM) users of the BBC Written Archives OTHER THAN historians, briefly on: 1) What you've used it for and 2) How the proposed changes would impact on your research.
Reposts welcomed.
Reposts welcomed.