• 2018 Columbia syllabus • About the Instructor • Return to Index
6 classes
1. Because it is Immediate. So far from demanding arcane knowledge, opera is an intensely dramatic medium that speaks directly to the heart and gut.
2. Because it is Beautiful. Opera contains some of the most beautiful music ever written in its arias and ensembles. And it may also be a feast for the eye onstage.
3. Because it is Human. Forget the horned helmets and park-and-bark arias. Opera at its best deals with characters who lead lives much like our own.
4. Because it is Relevant. Opera is not confined to bygone events, but can address the issues of our own time, from terrorism and racism to scientific discovery.
5. Because it is Inventive. No longer the province of dusty old productions, opera showcases the most inventive theatrical techniques in the theater today.
6. Because it is Flexible. Opera is not set in stone. In the last class, Roger will work with singers to show how even slight changes can affect the whole interpretation.