Ticket to the Opera:
Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places
We are all 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 30
- Introductions and semester overview
- Introduction to Don Giovanni
- First Listening Challenge
Class #2: Thursday, October 7
DON GIOVANNI
- Discussion of the opera
- Visual Elements (Set, Scenery, Costumes)
- Performance Aspects (Acting, Singing, Individual Performances)
- Lorenzo Da Ponte (Librettist)
- Listening Challenge Discussion
- Great Performers—Bryn Terfel & Renée Fleming
- Listening Challenge for Class #3
Class #3 Thursday, October 14
Introduction DON PASQUALE
- Listening Challenge Discussion
- Donizetti biography
- Storyline, characters
- Opera Comique/Commedia dell’arte
- What to listen/watch for
- Great Performers—John DelCarlo & Anna Netrebko
- Listening Challenge
Class #4 Thursday, October 21
DON PASQUALE; Intro DON CARLO
- Discussion of the opera
- Visual Elements (Set, Scenery, Costumes)
- Performance Aspects (Acting, Singing, Individual Performances)
- Listening Challenge Discussion (Comedy & Pathos)
- Don Carlo: Storyline, Characters, Historical Background
- What to listen for (Acts I & II)
- Assignment: Watch Acts I and II Don Carlo
Class #5 Thursday, October 28
DON CARLO
- Verdi Biography
- Development of the opera—many versions
- Discussion Acts I & II
- What to Listen/Look for in Acts III-V
- Why is Don Carlo considered Verdi’s masterpiece?
- Great Performers: Roberto Alagna & Marina Poplovskaya
- Assignment: Watch Don Carlo Acts III-V
Class #6 Thursday, November 4
DON CARLO
- Discussion of the opera
- Visual Elements (Set, Scenery, Costumes)
- Performance Aspects (Acting, Singing, Individual Performances)
- Great Performers
- Simon Keenlyside & Eric Halfvarson
- Feruccio Furlanetto—compare with Don Giovanni
- Characterizations through music. Theme of Carlo/Rodrigo anthem. Who is the hero/villain of this opera? How does Verdi use music to convey character?
- Listening Challenge for Adriana Lecouvreur
Class #7 Thursday, November 11 Introduction ADRIANA LECOUVREUR
- Listening Challenge Discussion
- Storyline, Characters
- Francesco Cilea Biography
- Comédie Francaise: Plays/playwrights cited
- What to Listen/Look For
- Great Performers:
- Piotr Beczala & Anita Rachvelishvili
- Ambrogio Maestri
Class #8 Thursday, November 18 ADRIANA LECOUVREUR
- Discussion of the opera
- Visual Elements (Set, Scenery, Costumes)
- Performance Aspects (Acting, Singing, Individual Performances)
- The real-life Adriana, Maurizio, Princesse de Bouillon
- Discussion
- Musical Characterizations & Leitmotifs
- Technique of Play within a Play
- Conscious “send-up” of traditional opera—why Adriana Lecouvreur is considered an “opera-lover’s opera”
- Take-Aways
- Memorable moments?
- Favorites?
- Thoughts for the future