When Art Sings: Paintings in Opera
Helen Astrid
- Regions:
- Surrey, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, London, Northern Ireland, Isle of Wight, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Mids, Hereford, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Riding, South Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Durham, Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, Aberdeen and North East, Tayside, Central and Fife, Edinburgh and Lothians, Glasgow and Strathclyde, Scotland South, Highland and Islands, Merthyr Tydfil, Powys, Newport, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Wrexham, Flintshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey
- Notice Period:
- Regular (more than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Professional
- Fee:
- Paid
- Category:
- Entertainment
- Updated:
- 5th August 2025
- Tagged:
- Art | Paintings | Opera Performances | Entertainment
Join Helen Astrid on a vivid journey into the world where opera and fine art collide. In this compelling talk—recently delivered at The Courtauld Institute of Art, London—Helen explores how iconic artworks have inspired some of the UK’s most visually arresting opera productions, transforming the stage into a living canvas.
From Bruegel’s Peasant Wedding influencing David McVicar’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at Glyndebourne, to Jonathan Miller’s Don Pasquale at the Royal Opera House echoing the eerie beauty of Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, these productions blend music and visual art in breathtaking ways. Even Caravaggio and Titian make bold appearances, creating a sensory feast where sound and image fuse into unforgettable spectacle.
Featuring works by Seurat, Hogarth, and others, Helen reveals why directors turn to the great masters to shape atmosphere, deepen narrative, and dazzle audiences. A richly illustrated talk that’s as enlightening as it is visually stunning.
“Everyone should be begging you to do talks!” William Hartston, British journalist, author, January 2025
“Thank you for a fascinating talk; I learned so much.” Dr Niccola Shearman, The Courtauld Institute of Art.
Views: 1112 | Enquiries: 2About Helen Astrid
Helen is an engaging and entertaining speaker and is an accredited Great British Speaker. Her talks are available in-person or online.
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 comes naturally to Helen. Her 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.
Helen's portfolio career includes all the things she loves from public speaking, corporate training, conducting choirs, writing books and teaching. It gives her great pleasure to share her expertise and anecdotes in opera and to help spread the wonders of this art form.
Her talks include:
From Farce to Finale - Humour in Opera, When Art Sings - Paintings in Opera, A Night at the Opera, From Page to Stage - Operas inspired by Literature, Secrets of the World's Greatest Divas, Unwrapping Christmas Carols and The Magic of Mozart.
Previous speaking engagements have been for Courtauld Institute of Art, London, Cambridge University, Plymouth University, Marlborough College, Imperial College, Benslow Music and Bishopsgate Institute. Watch out for her talk In January 2026 at Lewes Speakers Festival.
Her book Singing Tips at your Fingertips described by Gary Lachman (The Guardian) as “the place to find the singer within” contains 365 singing tips and is an AMAZON bestseller available in Paperback, Kindle and Audible.
Helen lives in South-West London and enjoys German Expressionist art, architecture, travelling and tennis. How does she relax? With her cat on her lap snuggling-up with a book and glass of Burgundy!
Please don't hesitate to get in touch for more details.
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Helen Astrid
- A Night at the Opera (Now booking)
- Unwrapping Christmas Carols (Now booking)
- Secrets of the World's Greatest Opera Divas (Now booking)
- Behaving Badly: Mozart and his librettist Da Ponte (Now booking)
- From Farce to Finale: Humour in Opera (Now booking)
- From Page to Stage: Literary Masterpieces in Operas (Now booking)
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