Peri to Puccini: The Story of Italian Opera



Overview

The extraordinary art form that is opera began around 1600 in Italy and within a century had swept through Europe. Although other countries gradually started to develop their own brands of opera, every major European city had an Italian opera company well into the 19th century. Throughout its long history, Italian opera has had a very direct appeal due to its tunefulness and the spectacular virtuosity of its singers.

This course charts the development of Italian opera from its origins as a product of aristocratic patronage to a public entertainment produced by flamboyant impresarios and performed by singers that the public flocked to hear. We will look at the operas of Monteverdi, Handel, Gluck, Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Verdi and Puccini.

Programme details

Courses starts: 30 Sep 2024

Week 1:   An overview of Italian opera

Week 2:   Peri, Monteverdi and the birth of opera

Week 3:   17th century developments. Handel's operas

Week 4:   Gluck's reforms

Week 5:   Mozart's Italian operas

Week 6:   Rossini. The Ricordi publishing house

Week 7:   Donizetti and Bellini

Week 8:   Verdi

Week 9:   Verdi's later operas. Verismo

Week 10: Puccini

Digital Certification

Digital badge

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £285.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Miss Claire Lucas

Claire-Louise Lucas is a professional mezzo-soprano and a part-time music tutor. She lectures on opera and song for Oxford University Department for Continuing Education.  She has lectured on singing in conservatoires and other universities in the UK and the USA.

Claire-Louise has performed extensively throughout Britain, Europe and the USA, including an appearance as a soloist in the Salzburg Easter Festival with Maurizio Pollini and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Claudio Abbado.  Other recent performances include concerts at Gloucester Cathedral; Christ Church Cathedral; Salisbury Cathedral; Southampton University; the Leominster Festival and the Brighton Festival. 

Course aims

To show the rise and development of Italian opera from c.1600 to c.1900

Course objectives:

  1. To examine the beginnings of Italian opera
  2. To show the development of the music and performance styles
  3. To highlight composers and masterpieces which are exemplars of their age

Teaching methods

The course will be illustrated by audio and video extracts, mostly co-ordinated by computer.  All visual illustrations, including scores, opera texts, video and DVD extracts will be projected on to a large screen.  Audio recordings will be played through high quality hi-fi.  There will also be live demonstrations by the tutor.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  1. State the events that gave rise to the Italian opera form
  2. Name the important developments in Italian opera
  3. Name the important composers in Italian operatic history, giving examples of their masterpieces

Application

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment Form (Word) or Enrolment Form (Pdf)

Level and demands

No prior knowledge is needed for enjoyment of this course.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support