In the third year of doctoral research, supervised by Ben Walton. Terry's project focuses on southern Italy, particularly Naples, and its operatic life in the 1860s and 1870s. After Italian unification, Naples changed overnight from a capital city to a large pre-industrial port city, far from the new pan-Italian governmen,t which was based in Turin, and its centres of influence, especially Milan whose importance grew in response to funding and Verdi's preferences. Naples had had two trophy opera houses as well as several smaller theatres that presented comic opera. After 1860, Naples's operatic powers needed to compete directly with Milan. Several artists, including many composers, thought their careers would be better served in northern Italy. At the same time, several works were set in Naples, partly because of the interest in the excavations at Pompeii: so Naples became associated with the exotic and heroic onstage.
The research project involves archival digging in Naples, in terms of letters and management papers, and examination of scores by composers who have now disappeared from the repertory.
Terry read Philosophy at King's for his first degree. After graduation, he worked as an opera director at Welsh National Opera, at the Teatro la Zarzuela in Madrid, Santa Fe Opera and in London. After a non-cultural career break, he collaborated with Christopher Hogwood and Richard Egarr as chair of their orchestra, the Academy of Ancient Music and remains on its council. He is a non-executive director of the Philharmonia and two classical record companies, Opera Rara and NMC Records.
