Western Opera in Asia and Imperial Culture

The circulation and appeal of Western operatic groups from the early 19th century across Asia marked the emergence of a shared Western imperial culture that transcended national and colonial borders of Portuguese, Dutch, British and Spanish settlements. Joining us this week is historian Akiko Sugiyama from the history department at the University of Malaya, to discuss how music and performance - concerning unrequited love, courtly intrigues, murderous rage - became a shared cultural reference amongst a new generation of transnational political elite in the colonies.