“The Carl Rosa Opera Company” a talk by The Reverend Dr Steven Martin

Join us at Liverpool Central Library on Friday 22nd May 2026 at 5.30pm for a fascinating talk exploring the remarkable legacy of the Carl Rosa Opera Company—the longest-running and most successful travelling opera company in British history. Far from a distant touring enterprise, Rosa’s company found a true home in Liverpool. Recognising the city’s outstanding transport links and its warm, discerning audiences, Rosa purchased the Royal Court Theatre in 1884, establishing a vital base from which new productions could be prepared and launched across the country.

Drawing on the Carl Rosa Archive—held at the Library and spanning over 150 years of operatic history—this talk offers a richly textured portrait of a company that helped shape Britain’s musical life. Dr Steven Martin will trace the Company’s origins in the 1860s, its arrival in Britain, and its pioneering mission to bring opera in English, at popular prices, to audiences across the social spectrum.

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Host or Publisher Central Liverpool PCT & Liverpool Central Library