As an amalgam of the arts, opera offers multiple points of entry for the audience, but ultimately, the art form is defined by its music. Changing attitudes across time toward opera’s place in the cultural discussion have precipitated an array of storytelling strategies as well as the incursion of political perspectives, theatrical innovations, and new musical styles. This six-week course will explore opera from multiple eras with a focus on both its fundamental musical perspective as well as its larger cultural significance.
We will begin with a session devoted to “why we love opera” with excerpts from multiple eras, composers, and operatic styles of storytelling. Subsequent sessions will build on this foundation with a guided discussion of a single opera and/or compositional style each week. A video performance will be assigned for each class to ensure that everyone has had a similar opportunity to experience the week’s topic before class. If possible/practical, we will ask all members of the class to attend Fidelio on March 15 as part the Met’s HD series of live-streamed performances so that we have at least one live performance to consider in our sample.
The course is open to anyone interested in opera, from the dabbler to the devotée. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the artform, various levels of knowledge and analytical acuity will be welcome additions to discussion.

COURSE FORMAT
This course is an interactive in-person lecture course in Rye, NY. This course will meet once a week for 6 classes and will be held in-person at the following location: The Osborn, 101 Theall Rd, Rye, NY
Weekly reading or other forms of materials may be assigned. There are no papers or grades. This course does not offer any credits or certificates. This course is intended for learning for the love of learning.

COURSE MATERIALS
This course will require participants to rent/purchase materials.
Weekly operas will be assigned to view. Specific operas: TBD
The instructor asks all members of the class to attend Fidelio on March 15 as part the Met’s HD series of live-streamed performances.

Registrants will receive access to the course website about two weeks before the course starts.

COURSE CANCELLATION POLICY
Registrants can cancel and receive a full refund up to February 26. After February 26, there will be no refunds issued.
Yale Alumni College courses are subject to schedule changes as well as cancellations. If Yale Alumni College must cancel any course prior to its start due to low enrollment, you will be notified of this by the cancellation date. Upon cancellation of a course, registrants may transfer their registration to another available course or have the registration fee fully refunded.

In the event of a disruption to the original course schedule, including but not limited to; Professor absence, hazardous weather conditions, or local travel restrictions, Yale Alumni College will do its best to reschedule the missed class for the week immediately following the original end date at the same course time and day.

Image: NOVA_OPERA_Artists_after_performance_of_opera-requiem_IYOV_in_National_Opera_House_of_Ukraine.jpg Anastasiia Mantach, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons