Opera, Vienna, and Cultural Exchange: In Conversation with Dr. Claudio Vellutini

My interview with Dr. Claudio Vellutini on The Blue Hour is now available as a podcast. In this conversation, I speak with Dr. Claudio Vellutini, Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of British Columbia School of Music, about opera in Vienna and the cultural exchanges that shaped one of Europe’s most influential musical centres. Drawing on his recent chapter in Vienna: A Musical History and his book Entangled Histories: Opera and Cultural Exchange between Vienna and the Italian States after Napoleon, Claudio traces the development of opera in Vienna from the seventeenth century to the present day. We discuss the arrival of Italian opera at the Habsburg court, the role of theatres and institutions in shaping Vienna’s musical identity, and why opera has remained such a powerful cultural force for more than four centuries. CiTR 101.9 FM / The Blue Hour Recorded live on June 21, 2026 Listen to the interview on CiTR Watch/listen on YouTube The Blue Hour, hosted by Farha…