MUS 189 — The Grandest of Grand Operas: Berlioz’s Troyens and Wagner’s Meistersinger
Summer
Mondays
7:00—8:50 pm
Date(s)
Jun 22—Jul 20
5 weeks
Drop By
Jul 5
1 Units
Fees
$215
Open
This year, the San Francisco Opera will present two grand operas, Hector Berlioz’s Les Troyens (1858) and Richard Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1868) within a five-month period, an event unique in US opera. Each opera requires six or more principal singers, a huge chorus, a large orchestra, and a massive production. Both composed within an eleven-year period, they represent the great flowering of the Romantic era in France and Germany, respectively.
In this course, the operas will be examined separately and in comparison, focusing on the vocal, orchestral, and dramatic characteristics of each. Les Troyens has two of opera’s most passionate lovers in Dido and Aeneas, and Die Meistersinger has opera’s wisest and most lovable philosopher in Hans Sachs. Artists who have contributed great performances in these operas’ major roles, as well as the various approaches taken by major conductors known for leading these works, will be highlighted along with productions of the two works worldwide.
In this course, the operas will be examined separately and in comparison, focusing on the vocal, orchestral, and dramatic characteristics of each. Les Troyens has two of opera’s most passionate lovers in Dido and Aeneas, and Die Meistersinger has opera’s wisest and most lovable philosopher in Hans Sachs. Artists who have contributed great performances in these operas’ major roles, as well as the various approaches taken by major conductors known for leading these works, will be highlighted along with productions of the two works worldwide.
Enrolled students are encouraged to experience Les Troyens and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg outside of class. The San Francisco Opera has graciously made available tickets to select performances of each opera at a 30 percent discount to enrolled students. More information will be provided upon registration.
Speight Jenkins, General Director of Seattle Opera, Emeritus
Speight Jenkins was general director of Seattle Opera for thirty-one years, from 1983 through 2014, producing ninety-two separate operas and traveling extensively in Europe and the United States. In 1981, he became the Metropolitan Opera’s host on the nationally televised “Live from the Met” broadcasts. He received a JD from Columbia and honorary doctorates from Seattle University, the University of Puget Sound, and the New England Conservatory.Textbooks for this course:
No required textbooks