Do you want to know a bit more about the operas we perform? Then this is the place for you! For each opera, a music scholar puts together a guide that delves into the plot of the opera, the music, the life of the composer, and many other topics. Here are the courses we currently have available:
2012-13 Season
The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini
The Magic Flute by W.A. Mozart, materials created by Luke Howard.
- Background to The Magic Flute
- The Story and Backstory of Writing The Magic Flute
- Characterization Through Music: Tamino and the Queen of the Night
- Characterization Through Music: Sarastro, Papageno, Monastatos, and the Three Boys
- Symbolism, Themes, and Criticisms
Florencia en el Amazonas by Daniel Catán, materials created by Dr. Carol Anderson
- The World of Florencia – all about the Amazon and its opera house
- The Composer of Florencia – Daniel Catán
- The Magic of Florencia – magic realism in Latin American arts
- The History of Florencia – its creation and production history
- Musical Highlights of Florencia
Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi, materials created by Paul Dorgan
- The Story, with Musical Examples
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Naughty Words
- The Libretto
- Salvadore Cammarano
- Recordings
- The Music of Il Trovatore
This project is supported by the Utah Humanities Council. The Utah Humanities Council (UHC) enriches our cultural, intellectual, and civic life by providing opportunities for all Utahns to explore life’s most engaging questions and the wonders of the human experience.
2011-12 Season
Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven
Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi
- Introduction
- Paul Dorgan, Biography
- Full Story, with Musical Examples
- The Music
- Background
- Censorship
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Francesco Maria Piave
- Victor Hugo
- Further Reading
- Recordings and DVDs
The Elixir of Love by Gioachino Rossini
Of Mice and Men by Carlisle Floyd
