Boys Behaving Badly: Mozart and his librettist Da Ponte
Helen Astrid
- Region:
- Anywhere
- Notice Period:
- Regular (more than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Professional
- Fee:
- Paid
- Category:
- Entertainment
- Updated:
- 20th August 2025
- Tagged:
- Mozart | History Of Opera | Classical Music | Entertainment
Step into the scandalous world of 18th-century opera, where genius and mischief meet in the legendary partnership between Mozart and the infamous librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte.
Opera expert Helen Astrid pulls back the velvet curtain to reveal the wild, witty, and often outrageous lives of these two towering figures; from Da Ponte’s womanising, gambling, and expulsion from the priesthood, to Mozart’s own rebellious streak and rakish charm, their shared love of satire, seduction, and social subversion gave birth to three of opera’s greatest masterpieces: Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Così fan tutte.
Helen explores how their tempestuous personalities shaped these brilliant works—and how the operas themselves are laced with lust, betrayal, and razor-sharp wit.
Review: "We loved it and can't wait to welcome you back to National Women’s Register again and again.....” Vicky Woolridge (NWR)
Views: 2115 | Enquiries: 1About Helen Astrid
Helen is an engaging and entertaining speaker and is an accredited Great British Speaker.
She graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, and performed as a soprano soloist at most of the major venues in the UK including English National Opera, Linbury Theatre Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Garsington Opera and Chelsea Opera at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank.
Appearing on television and radio such as BBC World News, The Paul O'Grady Show, Broadcasting House and BBC's Ask the Experts Helen' s Ted Talk Tell me the truth about Opera has been viewed by 1000s. She is thrilled to be speaking at the V&A in Spring 2026 on Art in Opera.
Previous speaking engagements have been for Courtauld Institute of Art, London, Cambridge University, Plymouth University, Marlborough College, Imperial College, Benslow Music and Bishopsgate Institute.
Helen lives in South-West London and enjoys German Expressionist art, architecture, travelling and tennis. She relaxes with her cat Riesi on her lap and snuggling-up with a book and glass of Burgundy!
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