Demystifying Opera

What comes to mind when you hear the word “opera”? Maybe the classic Bugs Bunny cartoon, or the Viking woman with her horned helmet, or perhaps even Saturday afternoon’s spent listening to the Met radio broadcast with your grandparents. No matter your level of experience with this art form, opera is meant for everyone! Combining elements of drama, music, creative writing, visual art, and even dance, opera is considered to be one of the fullest embodiments of theatrical art. Even still, interacting with opera today can feel daunting if one is unfamiliar with the basics. So join me to demystify this stunning art form!

Opera newbies to aficionados alike are welcome as we debunk popular opera myths, cultivate a foundational understanding of opera’s rich history, and finally explore form and structure through one of the time-honored staples of the operatic cannon - Puccini’s La bohème.

This lecture was first presented as part of the Eliot Society’s “Living Room Lecture” series in October 2023 and is available for any group looking for a fun, interactive “Opera 101” event.