In this episode, we’re re-visiting the unprecedented impact of social distancing on the arts, with a specific focus on opera. Our very special guest is one of the UK’s leading sopranos, whose credits include major roles at the Welsh National Opera, Glyndebourne, the Royal Opera House and Opera North - Meeta Raval. In her 20s, Meeta was the inaugural prize-winner of the Basil Turner Prize for her work with British Youth Opera, later going on to receive the first Royal Academy of Music's Pavarotti Prize. She was also the recipient of the Independent Opera Award and was awarded The Sybill Tutton Opera Award by the Musician’s Benevolent Fund. In 2012, Meeta was named Patron of the Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust and her voice has been heard many times on BBC 2 and Radio 3 in recent years. Richard spoke to Meeta in August 2020, about the limbo that many artists find themselves in with the global lockdown easing but with theatres still closed. They talk about the future of opera and whether this is an opportunity to do things differently - particularly the way performers and technical staffing the UK arts sector have the most complex and misunderstood payment systems that have left them more exposed than most at this time. --- Useful links: Meeta's Royal Opera House profile - http://www.roh.org.uk/people/meeta-raval Meeta on Twitter - https://twitter.com/meetarology Daily Telegraph: New Faces - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/opera/9694409/Meeta-Raval-New-Faces.html --- We’ll be debating the issues raised at www.thepossibilityclub.org, a free network of professionals with something to say and ideas to test - and we really want to know what you think. Don’t forget to join right now, for free. The Possibility Club is an always possible podcast, produced by Chris Thorpe Tracey for Lo Fi Arts.
