Description
This season we will prepare for three Metropolitan Opera HD presentations in local theaters, “Carmen”, “La Forza del destino”, and “Roméo et Juliette”. The class will also explore André Previn’s 1998 opera “A Streetcar Named Desire ”. We begin with Bizet’s popular opera, “Carmen”. The demanding lead role is capable of many interpretations and we shall compare different singers including Leontyne Price, Rise Stevens, Grace Bumbry and Elina Garanča. We next turn to the American verismo opera, “A Streetcar Named Desire”. Based on Tennessee Williams’s play, André Previn has used music to bring out the various emotional worlds of the characters. Leading our cast will be the American soprano Renée Fleming. Verdi’s dark and fateful opera, “La Forza del Destino” (“The Force of Destiny”) follows next. Premiered in Russia, Verdi enlarges the dramatic sweep in this opera with melodramatic episodes mixed with some comic relief. Great arias abound especially for the soprano, tenor, baritone and mezzo.
We conclude with Charles Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette”. Adapted from Shakespeare’s play, this opera focuses on the lovers with an unprecedented number of four soprano/tenor duets. Gounod’s music abounds with French sensuousness and orchestral color.
David Collins has been lecturing on opera in the greater Boston area for over 25 years. He had been Opera Boston’s resident lecturer for 8 years. He has given opera courses at MIT, Regis College, The Boston Center for Adult Education and The Cambridge Center for Adult Education as well as lecturing at Northeastern University. Dave is currently a trustee of The Boston Wagner Association. Dave received his Bachelor degree from Boston University’s School of Music, his Master’s from Lesley University and did post grad work at the New England Conservatory and the University of Connecticut – Hart School of Music.
PLEASE NOTE Class begins January 23, and meets February 2, March 5 and March 19
