Music 128 - The Hyperbolic World of Opera in 25 Episodes -- An Introduction to Western Classical Opera from the Renaissance to the Present Day

This course begins with the birth of opera at the end of the Renaissance Period, and ends with some of the most successful operas in the past decade. Our investigation includes operas in English, French, German, Italian and Russian. Alongside an introduction to the materials of opera, from vocal fachs, forms, and styles, to vocal virtuosity, the course situates opera as a cultural phenomenon by considering the unique set of historical, intellectual, social, political and economic conditions of each work of art. The course includes some opera projections; each one is preceded by an introduction of the period in which it was first performed and is followed by class discussion.