Sounds of Learning

Students in the Opera Company of Philadelphia's Sounds of Learning program saw the final dress rehearsal of Puccini's Tosca on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at the Academy of Music. 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? Why or why not? Which was your favorite character and why? Did you like the costumes and sets? Who was your favorite singer? Which singer had the best and most im pressive singing voice? Your review should be at least 50 words or more. Please include your first name, school and grade in your post. Don't forget to support your opinion! Click here if you want to learn more about these operas, the singers in the production, and more! Messag e from the Production Staff: We want to thank all participating schools for their wonderful behavior during the dress rehearsal! You were the best Co-Producers the Opera Company of Philadelphia has ever seen! A...

Welcome Teachers and Students to Opera Online !! This weeks webisode feature the singers who will be performing in Tosca . We'll take a look at the opera singers who will be portraying the roles of Tosca, Cavaradossi, and Scarpia. Video Clips of the Week!! In this video clip of the week we'll get a preview of the artists who will be playing Tosca, Cavaradossi, and Scarpia. All three opera singers will be making their debut at the Opera Company of Philadelphia. The first video clip is of soprano Adina Nitescu, who will be playing Tosca. Nitescu is best known not only for her moving protrayal of Tosca, but also for performances as Cio-Cio-San in Puccini's Madame Butterfly and Mannon in Puccini's Mannon Lescaut . This video clip is from Mannon Lescaut at Glyndebourne Festival in 1997. Nitescu plays Mannon, a young woman who has left the man that she loves for wealth and security. In the clip she entertains the guest of the household by singing a minuet. The second clip...

Welcome Teachers and Students to Opera Online!! This week we will take a look at the popularity of Tosca throughout the world. We will also take a virtual tour of Rome. Video Clip of the Week!! Tosca is one of Puccini's most famous operas. The music from Tosca has been used in films and has been covered by many non-opera singers. The first video clip features a section of the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace . The main villian is having a meeting with his accomplices in the middle of a modernized performance of Tosca . James Bond has stolen an ear piece and is listening in on the conversation. Try and figure out what song from Tosca is playing in the background. Why would the director of the movie choose that music to use in the background? The second clip is a cover of the tenor aria "E lucevan le stelle" by rocker Michael Bolton. Bolton is best known for his songs and soft rock cover. He is most famous for his cover of "When a Man Loves a Woman" and writi...

Welcome teachers and students to Opera Online! A special welcome to Kraig H., Darnell B., Samantha C., Naseer C., Kiayonah B., Shakera C., Essence J., Alexis M., James B., Brandon T., Janaya R., Carlos C., Lauren S., Gionna from Lankenau High School! This week we will take a look at Act III of Tosca and challenge your knowledge of the opera! Video Clips of the Week! The first video clip is a cartoon of Cavaradossi's aria "E lucevan le stelle" (Student Handbook pg 31). The cartoonist uses the angel of death to foreshadow Cavaradossi's impending execution. He also adds a flashback to Scarpia's murder from the previous act. The second clip is the finale of Act III from the first video production of Tosca in 1976 (Student Handbook, pg 32). The final video clip is Act III of the Lego production. Cartoon "E lucevanle stelle" (No subtitles) 1976 Production of Tosca, Plácido Domingo , Raina Kabaivanska , and Mario Ferrara (English Subtitles) Lego Synopsis o...