Opera: History, Theory, Practice

This seminar will analyze the history, theory, and practice of opera in its textual (words and music), and performative (in the theater and in society) dimensions. We will focus paradigmatic works of Mozart, Verdi, and Wagner alongside key works in philosophy, cultural theory, and gender/performance/opera studies. We will also discuss the genesis and implementation of key productions. In addition, each student will select a 20th or 21st-century work for individual research and presentation to the group.