Conjuring the Classical Otherwise (ResearchWorks, Guildhall School of Music & Drama)

This public lecture, organised by ResearchWorks at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, examines how Western classical music has been reorganised in contemporary China as an institutional, industrial and political field. Drawing on Weida Wang’s recent monograph, the talk challenges linear postcolonial readings and instead explores decentring, institutionally produced subjectivities, cultural governance, and examples such as the Beijing Music Festival’s China premiere of Wagner’s Parsifal and the platformisation of classical performance in China’s digital media environment.

Dr Weida Wang (PhD, Royal Holloway) presents the research and is joined by a response from Zixi Ren (PhD candidate, Guildhall School of Music & Drama). The session will consider performers, curators, audiences and cultural intermediaries and how festivals, orchestras, venues and media platforms shape musical subjectivities.

The talk is research-focused and suitable for students, academics, musicians and members of the public interested in musicology, sound studies and cultural/political aspects of music in East Asia. ResearchWorks is the Guildhall School’s programme of research events that brings together staff, students and external guests.

The event is free to attend but requires registration via Eventbrite.