Everyone knows Rossini as the composer of The Barber of Seville and the William Tell overture, but he wrote 39 operas in all! Some of his little-known works are having a renaissance because of great singers like Juan Diego Flórez and Joyce DiDonato. For the first time in its history, the Metropolitan Opera will broadcast a live performance in movie theaters of Rossini’s La Donna del Lago, based on Sir Walter Scott’s poem The Lady of the Lake. Prepare for the screening on March 14 with a short overview of the history of opera, with emphasis on the Italian opera business in the 19th century, and the influence of Rossini, bel canto, and La Donna del Lago. Learn about the importance of Romanticism in Scott’s poem and the opera, and compare different performances. Opera neophytes and superfans are welcome.
There are no formal plans for class members to attend the performance, but they can see it in several movie theaters in Colorado, including the Greenwood Plaza theatres at 10:55 a.m. on March 14, with a repeat scheduled on March 18 at 6:30 p.m. in most venues.