Sounds of Learning

Welcome to Opera Online! After looking at the vocal chords in action and soprano Simone Kermes having a ball singing Vivaldi last week, this week we'll visit three of the earliest operas that were written within 40 years of each other. And we'll take a look at what's on the radio this weekend, too. Youtube Clip of the Week The first opera ever performed is generally regarded to be Jacopo Peri's Dafne , an opera based on Greek legend. The opera was premiered in 1597 but no written music survives for us to know what it sounded like. But there are several surviving operas from around the same period. We'll look at one from Italy, one from England, and one from France. The earliest surviving operas that are still performed today are those of Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi . His opera L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea) was premiered in 1642 and is the story of a Roman noblewoman, Poppea , who manages to wrap the Emperor Nero around her fin...

Welcome to Opera Online! The Opera Company season officially ends this weekend as the last production of the season, Britten's The Rape of Lucretia closes. Over the summer as we wait for the new season to start, we'll be looking at a lot of different things, including a little bit of information on vocal technique, how the voice works, the bel-canto style, and a walk through opera's time line. We'll see some clips from comic and serious operas, legendary singers and some you may not know, and even singers in Broadway and popular music, too. Also, during the summer we'll let you know what opera will be aired on the radio each Saturday afternoon on WRTI, 90.1 FM. If you have suggestions of things you'd like to see, please let me know and I'll find a few clips as well. Youtube Clip of the Week Have you ever wondered what your vocal chords look like? Have you ever seen them as they produce sound? Here's a clip that was filmed during a stroboscopy (pronou...

What did you think of Lucretia? Sounds of Learning TM Britten's The Rape of Lucretia Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 6:15 p.m. Students in the Opera Company of Philadelphia's Sounds of Learning TM program saw the final dress rehearsal of Britten's dramatic The Rape of Lucretia on Wednesday, June 3rd. Now that you've studied the opera and seen it, what were your impressions? Tell us what you think and post your reviews here! Did you like the opera and why? Which was your favorite performer and why? What was your favorite part of the opera and why? Did the opera meet your expectations? Your review should be at least 50 words or more. Please include your first name, school and grade in your post. Click here if you want to learn more about these operas, the singers in the production, and more! JOIN OUR OPERA EMAIL LIST! Email education@operaphila.org and we'll deliver free opera right into your inbox once a week. Each week there will be a youtube "Clip of the Week...