Opera Unveiled: Love, Power, and Betrayal on Stage

Course description

Step into the world of opera, where love, deception, ambition, and faith come together in unforgettable ways. In this course, we’ll focus on how to listen—what to notice, what to listen for, and how music and story come together in opera. We will begin with a selection of highlights from the Metropolitan Opera’s 20th-anniversary Live in HD celebration, and then turn to four works from the fall season: Mozart’s Così fan tutte, a witty and revealing comedy of love and fidelity; Verdi’s Macbeth, a dark and powerful adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy; Verdi’s Il Trovatore (Pacific Opera Victoria), a fast-moving drama of revenge, family secrets, and soaring melody; and Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila, a story of seduction and faith set to richly expressive music.

Through guided discussions, we’ll explore each opera’s story, music, and staging in a way that is welcoming to both newcomers and seasoned operagoers. This popular course offers an engaging way to experience the beauty and drama of the operatic stage.