Love: it’s a staple of the opera: foolish love, faithless love; love betrayed, love scorned; love of God, love of country. And yet – it’s a staple because we are drawn by the passion and the fervor, the sincere hopes of young lovers as well as the cynical disdain of seasoned seducers, all enhanced by gorgeous music, luscious lyrics, glorious costumes and scenery.
Join us as we explore the realm of operatic love in four operas, each of which presents that emotional experience in a different light: (1) Mozart’s Don Giovanni: Don Juan, the eternal seducer, pursues love everywhere, (2) Donizetti’s Don Pasquale: An old man marries a young woman and suffers the consequences, (3) Verdi’s Don Carlo: A royal lady is wedded to her fiancé’s father: a drama of love vs. duty, and (4) Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur: The actress vs. the princess: a tale of love spurned.
Format: Short presentations are encouraged; most important is participation in lively discussions about performances, themes and ideas. There will be lots of room for differing opinions and reactions. Class members will view each opera independently.
Resources/Expenses: The coordinators will designate specific online performances for each opera. Operas can be obtained from Metropolitan Opera on Demand for $4.95 each or by monthly subscription ($14.95/month).