With so many opportunities to see live opera on Stage, in HD at the cinema or in your living room, streamed live from around the world, this class will enhance your appreciation of the 2012-13 Season’s exciting operas and prepare you to see them live! Whether you are new to opera or an aficionado, this class is for you.
With DVD, CD and You Tube clips, we’ll explore what operas are not to be missed, which singers to hear and we’ll delve into the history, style, libretto (story) of these operas and recommend the best recordings. We’ll listen to and compare today’s stars with legendary singers of the past, who have made these great works come to life. And we’ll explore how productions, traditional or “updated”, enhance or diminish the enjoyment of opera.
There are approximately 20 live opera performances available in the Bay Area this season. They include a number of newly commissioned operas, rarely performed works by both well know and obscure composers, and, of course, many classics with exciting casts.
These include: Bellini’s I Capuleti ed I Montecchi (SFO), Berlioz’s Les Troyens (MET) Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda (MET), Wagner’s Lohengrin (SFO) and Parisfal (MET), Puccini’s Tosca (SFO), Heggie’s Moby Dick (SFO), Handel’s Giulio Cesare (MET), Verdi’s Otello / Ballo in Maschera, Aida (MET) and Rigoletto (SFO & MET), Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito (Met) and many others.
As always, registered students can attend (optional) a performance at San Francisco Opera. This season’s offering is Wagner’s early masterpiece, Lohengrin (tentative date 11/3) with a great cast. Tickets are approximately $45 for an orchestra seat, are very limited in number and are not included in the registration fee. Class registration and opera tickets for purchase will be available around th first week in August. Check back to confirm dates and learn how to reserve tickets for Lohengrin or call or email me for more information: wkent@sonic.net or 707-824-4531.
