F1A. Opera as Politics: No Kings (In-Person Class)
Art, Music & Theater | Registration opens 2/25/2026 9:00 AM
“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown” (Shakespeare: Henry IV, Part II, Act 3:1). This Zoom course will look at the troubled reigns of royal rulers as portrayed on the operatic stage, and the political context in which these operas were created and performed. From the earliest days of opera to the present, the stage was where audiences received and reacted to (not so) hidden political messages. The class will examine how Enlightenment philosophies challenged the autocracies of the 17th to 21st centuries, as well as the autocratic response. The course will include relevant operatic excerpts.
NOTE: This is a Hybrid class, being offered in person (F1A) and on Zoom (Z5) at the same time.
You are currently viewing the in-person class. If you wish to register for the Zoom class, click here.
- Image courtesy of Shutterstock
Chuck Mishaan
Presenter and Producer
Chuck Mishaan, MA, (LLI) has been presenting courses at Bard LLI for many years, including his popular Opera as Politics series, the Leonard Bernstein Centenary Lectures, and recently The Roaring 20s. His commentary on the intersection of politics and the arts continues with this course.