You will be fully immersed in the study of each of the operas through lecture, videotape viewings, and discussions, and will come to understand their impact on a larger historical and cultural level. For instance, you'll learn why Mozart's Marriage of Figaro precipitated the French Revolution and how the completion of the Suez Canal in Egypt was responsible for giving us one of the greatest operas of all time. You'll also learn how Verdi reconfigured the structure of Italian opera when he tackled Shakespeare's Othello. In addition to becoming familiar with the stories and characters of the great operas, you will learn how to approach opera with pleasure and knowledge and understand why these dramatic stage works have excited the hearts and imaginations of audiences all over the world.
Nothing ever happens in a vacuum.
In this fascinating course, you will learn how world views over the centuries have strongly influenced music, art, literature, and architecture. From Mozart and the French Revolution to Stravinsky and both World Wars, you'll examine how people and events, thoughts, and art are intricately linked. Discover what Mozart and the French and American Revolutions have in common. See how the Viennese composer Beethoven and the Spanish painter Goya are connected in spirit. Understand how Stravinsky and World War I are linked.