Online Course for The Marriage of Figaro
I have signed up for several online opera courses from OPERA America over the past few years, and am amazed and glad that OPERA America offers them to Utah Opera free of charge whenever one of our productions matches up with one of their course offerings. Many of our patrons took a 4-week e-mail course on Rossini’s Cinderella last season, and Puccini’s Madame Butterfly this past October. And now OPERA America, the umbrella organization for all American opera companies, is offering us all another FREE 4-week course, this time about Mozart’s classic The Marriage of Figaro.
The course consists of an email message once a week for four weeks running that links you to the opera course website. There’s a button on the screen for each week’s lesson as it becomes available. You can always go back and check a previous week’s lesson. The lessons consist of short articles about the opera: the time period in which it was produced, the biographies of the librettist and composer—especially while writing the opera, the public and critical response to the opera, the musical style of the opera, the ‘big hits’ to listen for….There are musical clips you can listen to, as well as interviews with current artists involved in productions of the piece. Utah Opera’s Figaro for this production, Ryan McKinny, and our conductor, Christopher Larkin, are both interviewed as part of the course. Pictures of past productions are featured, and the teacher for the course can be emailed with comments and questions.
It’s the kind of thing you can just skim through to glean details you might not already have known, or that other kind of thing, when you have time to take an hour to read the text for each lesson thoroughly and listen to all the musical clips and interviews. I’ve used the courses both ways, and have found any effort well-rewarded when I go to the theatre with informed expectation and anticipation to experience the opera production my company is offering.
Patrons who signed up for Madame Butterfly earlier this season are already signed up for the course on The Marriage of Figaro. If you would like to join the course, simply comment on this blog post (make sure to include your email address in the ‘email’ field), and I’ll get you on the list—your name and preferred e-mail address is all I need. This course begins on Feb 17. Sign up by Friday, February 13th, to receive the first mailing on time.
While I’m blogging on this topic, I might as well mention that you can extend your learning even further by taking advantage of our “Toast to Vienna” Festival—a month-long outpouring of events (opera and symphony performances, Vienna Boys’ Choir concert, films, dance and cuisine lessons, lectures) all about the city of Vienna. Our opera production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro is at the center of this festival.
Posted in USUO Education, Utah Opera
January 13th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
I look forward to taking the course with other members of the Wyoming Catholic College Opera Society. Thank you for organizing it!
January 13th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Figaro to go? I want to enroll and be in the know!
January 14th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I always love more facts about productions we are mounting!
January 14th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Sounds great!
January 19th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
I teach Italian at the university and I will take the online course with some of the students.
Thank you for organizing it.
Alessandra
January 20th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Please put me on the list
January 26th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Please sign me up. Thank you!
January 28th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Please add my name to the list.
January 28th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
The Marriage of Figaro online course please! Thanks!
January 28th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Thank you for including me in this opportunity.
January 28th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Sounds exciting! Sign me up!
January 28th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Please put me on the list. This will be cool.
January 28th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Sounds great. Please sign me up.
January 28th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I would love to learn about the Marriage of Figaro!
January 28th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Please include me on your list of enrollees. Thanks.
January 28th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Sign me up please
January 28th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
What a great opportunity! Thank you.
January 29th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I love the idea of learning more about this opera!
January 30th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Please add me to the list for the Marriage of Figaro online course.
THX
February 1st, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Looking forward to the course and the performance. Thanks.
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:28 pm
This will be my first opera experience so I would love to be well prepared, thanks!
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Please send me the online course
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:04 am
I’d love to take the online course. Please sign me up.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:09 am
Music, music, music! Sign me up!
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I am excited to take the class as a means to educate my students on this delightful opera.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Thank you for this enlightening opportunity.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:04 am
I would like to take the online course. Thank you for offering this service.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:33 am
I’m very interested. Please sign me up, thanks!
February 5th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I would very much like to take the online course
February 6th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
thanks
February 13th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I hope this isn’t too late to get signed up in time!
February 15th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I know I may be a little late but I hope I can still sign up! Please include me in the emails…..this will be my first opera and I want to enjoy every minute of it! Thank you very much!
February 16th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
I know I am late as well, but i hope i can be included. Thanks
February 17th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Please sign me up; I’d love to learn more about the Marriage of Figaro.
February 17th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Opera rocks!
February 18th, 2009 at 6:25 am
Sorry I’m late to the party! I will be attending the opera and would appreciate inclusion in the mail list.
February 19th, 2009 at 11:24 am
I would love to learn more about The Marriage of Figaro
February 19th, 2009 at 11:26 am
sign me up!
February 19th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Please sign me up.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Am I too late to sign up for the online course on The Marriage of Figaro?
February 21st, 2009 at 11:29 am
Please sign me up.
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:22 am
Please sign me up.
February 24th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Please sign me up for the course.
Thank you.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Please sign me up!
February 26th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Please sign me up, too!
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Even though the course has already started, you’re free to keep signing up. You’ll still have access to the earlier lessons.
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:02 am
Thank you!
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:30 am
Looking forward to the performance on the 18th!
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:09 pm
I’m so glad we can still sign up.
Thanks!
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Please sign me up!
March 6th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I’d love to still sign up for this even though I am late. Please put me on your list.
Thanks.
Wendy Wegner
March 6th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Please sign me up if its not too late!
Thanks.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Please sign me up if its not too late!
Thanks.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Paula,
Please sign me up if it’s still possible. We’ll cram it all in!
March 9th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I would love to take the online courses.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I want to understand.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Thanks for adding sending me the Figaro notes.
March 12th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Please sign me up for the online course. Many Thanks!
March 13th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I would like to take this course also.
Thanks
March 16th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Please sign me up for the Figaro course.
The Director’s Cut DVD of Amadeus is great. It has an excellent video on the making of the film.
March 18th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Please sign me up, thanks!