Dr. Suzanne Aspden

Biography

Suzanne Aspden’s research centers on 18th-century opera and dramatic music, exploring how music facilitates the expression of identity—national, personal, and dramatic. Her detailed historical contextualization and analysis of performance aesthetics during this period have led to significant publications, including her recent monograph, 'Rival Sirens: Performance Identity on Handel’s Operatic Stage' (Cambridge, 2013), which examines themes of music and national identity in 18th-century Britain. Originally from New Zealand, Suzanne completed her D.Phil. at Oxford and has held research positions at Cambridge and the U.S., as well as taught at the University of Southampton from 2003 to 2005. She returned to Oxford in 2005 and has been involved in extensive broadcasting on BBC Radio and Television, particularly focusing on Handel's operas and the 18th-century British music scene. Additionally, she serves as a co-editor for the Cambridge Opera Journal and is actively engaged in co-editing a volume of essays on Francesco Cavalli’s 'Erismena'. Her teaching includes undergraduate and postgraduate courses covering various aspects of opera, musical nationalism, and the relationship between music and words. Suzanne's research interests also encompass the construction of identity in music, politics, 18th-century performance aesthetics, and dance music.

Research Interests

Experience