2017-18 Academic Catalog

Pure pleasure or pure torture: Opera is said to be both. Music 120 is an introduction to opera based on its 400-year history from 1600 to the present. Issues covered include the relationship between words, action, and music in opera; singers and their power; opera as spectacle; race, gender and opera; opera in film; and the experience of live performance. This course will focus on specific repertoire from the classical tradition and will introduce students to a broad range of analytical methods, and cultural contexts. The course is open to all students and the ability to read music is not required.