A37: Now THAT’S ITALIAN! How To Appreciate Italian Opera, Part I - 3 units
Glenn Winters
Fri. 1:00–3:00 p.m. - Sept. 12, 19, 26         
Meadows Presbyterian Church - Limit: 45

Glenn Winters received the Doctor of Music from Northwestern University; he also holds a B.M. and M.M. in piano performance from Indiana University.  His background includes teaching college-level piano, arts administration at two universities, and extensive performing experience as a pianist. As an operatic baritone, Winters has appeared with Virginia Opera and the Operafestival di Roma in Rome, Italy. His original educational opera, History Alive!, premiered in 2007. He joined Virginia Opera’s Education and Audience Development Department in 2004 as Community Outreach Musical Director.

For some, Italian opera is a treat for the gods. For others, the combination of language barrier, tortured plot lines and (at times) over-the-top musical style can make the art form hard to “get into.” This course will equip students with everything needed to savor two Italian masterpieces: Verdi’s Il Trovatore and Donizetti’s madcap situation comedy The Elixir of Love.  Discover your inner opera fanatic! Guaranteed to help you understand the narrative power of operatic music. Part II will be offered in Spring 2009.

Suggested Reading:  It is suggested that enrolled students read the plot summaries of both operas as contained on the Virginia Opera Web site (www.vaopera.org).