But we ended up being the opera. The students spent the first four weeks of the semester trying to decide on a concept for the production. This collaborative approach continued throughout the semester as the students came to grips with other elements of the production. Every student is a director. Every student helps determine the production's concept.
Every student helps with lighting and sets.
This approach allows every student to participate at the highest level, Kallick notes. Although those knowledgeable about opera were surprised by the choice of Cosi fan Tutte as a first opera for a liberal arts music class, the Music 20 students became very involved with Cos 's examination of love, relationships and fidelity. But the opera is also very difficult to stage, Kallick says. It twists and turns on itself, and it doesn't always cohere. The music is beautiful, but it's sometimes difficult to make sense of on stage.