Ticket to the Opera
Fall, 2019
All of us, opera connoisseurs, amateurs and newbies alike, are here to savor great music, learn about an art form, share perceptions and opinions, and enjoy each other’s company.
Participation in class discussion is highly encouraged. Presentations are also encouraged and are meant to be an interesting learning experience, shared with interested learners. ALL contributions are welcome and valued.
Class #1: Thursday, September 19
• Introduction to the class
• Opera from A to Z
Second hour
• Preview of the performances
• Temple Rules/Syllabus/Web Site/Buying Tickets
• First Listening Challenge
Class #2: Thursday, September 26 TURANDOT
• Discuss Listening Challenge: Penney
• Puccini biography: Anne Bozzi
• Turandot: story/libretto: Jim Tracy
• Next Week's Discussion Challenge: Penney
Second hour
• Guest Speaker: René de la Garza
Class #3 Thursday, October 3 TURANDOT
• Arias to look forward to. What to listen for? Penny
• Chinese folk melodies/instrumentation + comparisons with other productions: Penney
Second hour
• Spotlight on the performers:
Christine Goerke Janice Raftery
Eleonora Buratto & Roberto Aronica
• Discussion: Turandot as a “problem” opera Penney
NO CLASS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10
Opera in HD: Turandot, Sat. Oct 12, Wed. Oct. 16
Class #4 Thursday, October 17 TURANDOT/MANON
• Post-opera discussion: Turandot Sam Shamoon
• Manon: the story/libretto Barbara Nesto
Second hour
• Arias to listen for Penny Backman
• Themes/Staging/Interpretations Penney
• Listening Challenge: Musical clues to Manon’s character development
Class #5 Thursday, Oct. 24 MANON
• Listening Challenge
• Massenet Biography Tom Backman
• Spotlight on the Performers: Lisette Oropesa & Michael Fabiano Helen MacDonald
Second hour
• Guest Speaker: Ron DeLillo
Opera in HD: Manon, Sat. Oct. 26, Wed. Oct. 30
Class #6 Thurs, Oct. 31 MANON, MADAMA BUTTERFLY
• Post-Opera discussion: Manon
• Madama Butterly: the story/libretto Mary Beth Maitoza
• Japanese influences in Butterfly Maggie Fennesey
Second hour
• Guest Speaker: Diana McVey
Class #7 Thursday, November 7 MADAMA BUTTERFLY
• Puccini’s Women Characters Joan Halpert
• Cast: Spotlight on the performers:
Hui He & Elizabeth DeShong Isabel Kushner
Andrea Carè & Paolo Szot Elaine Sandy
Second hour
• Madama Butterfly: Aria Highlights Michael Goldenberg
Opera in HD: Madama Butterfly, Sat. Nov. 9, Wed. Nov 13
Class #8 Thurs., November 14 BUTTERFLY, AKHNATEN
• Post-Opera Discussion: Madama Butterfly Barbara Martin
• Philip Glass Biography Jan Sargent-Tracy
• Akhenaten: story/libretto Bob Martin
Second hour
• Staging, costumes
• The Countertenor in Opera Heidi Smith
• Listening Challenge:
Class #9 Thursday, November 21 AKHNATEN
• Guest Speaker: Edward Markward
Second hour
• Listening Challenge Discussion
• Spotlight on the Performers
Anthony Roth Costanzo & J’nai Bridges Judy Robbins
Karen Kamensek Judy Levitt
• Discussion: Themes raised by Ahnaten
Opera in HD: Akhnaten, Sat., Nov. 23,Wed. Dec. 4
NO CLASS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28
Class #10 Thursday, December 5
• Post-opera discussion: Akhnaten Tim Walsh
• Course evaluation
• End-of-semester party