Sounds of Learning

Welcome Students and Teachers to Opera Online! This week we will look at the Opera Company of Philadelphia's production of Hans Werner Henze's Phaedra. For our last webisode before the highly anticipated dress rehearsal, we will take a look at the performers and their careers. Video Clips of the Week! Our first video clip is of our Phaedra, mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford. A graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program , Ms. Mumford is no stranger to the Academy of music stage. She debuted at The Opera Company of Philadelphia in the 2009 production of The Rape of Lucretia . This clip is from production of Claudio Monteverdi 's L'incoronazione di Poppea at the Glyndebourne Festival in 2008. In the aria "Disprezzata regina", Ottavia (Mumford) bemoans her husband's infidelity. Our second clip is of tenor William Burden who will be playing Hippolyt. Mr. Burden has appeared at major opera houses throughout the United States in...

Welcome Students and Teachers to Opera Online! This week we'll take a look at the myth of Phaedra and see how it inspired other composers and playwrights in preparation for the premiere of Hans Werner Henze's Phaedra. Video Clip of the Week!! The myth of Phaedra has inspired many great artists, musicians, and playwrights. The three most famous interpretations of the Phaedra myth are the plays by Euripedes, Seneca, and Racine. Although each playwright has a different interpretation of the story the main ideas of the plot remain. Phaedra is the wife of Theseus, the king of Athens and a great Greek hero. Phaedra has fallen in love with Hippolytus, her stepson. She knows that her feelings are immoral but too strong to contain, so she confronts Hippolytus. Hippolytus rejects her. Phaedra falls into despair and commits suicide, leaving a note for her husband saying that Hippolytus raped her. Theseus becomes infuriated with his stepson and asks the God of the Sea, Poseidon, to avenge...

Welcome Students and Teachers to Opera Online! This week begins our look at the upcoming U.S. premiere of Hans Werner Henze's Phaedra . We'll see a preview of the opera and take a look at Henze other works. Video Clip of the Week! This week we will take a look at an interview with tenor John Mark Ainsley. Ainsley played Hippolyt in the the 2010 production of Phaedra in London. In the video clip he discusses the music, the story, and the strange circumstances surrounding the creation of Phaedra. Website of the week! Although he is turning 83 years old in July, Hans Werner Henze is still writing operas to this day! Check out this link to learn more about the composer and his other works. Join us for A Taste of Opera! On Sunday, May 22, 2011 from 2:00-3:00pm the Opera Company of Philadelphia is hosting a round table discussion on Hans Werner Henze's Phaedra. Joining us will be members from the cast and the artistic and production teams. The discussion will be moderated by t...

Welcome Students and Teachers to Opera Online! This week we will be wrapping up our discussion on Tosca. There are two more chances to see Tosca , Friday, May 6th at 8 PM and Sunday, May 8th at 2:30 PM. A reminder for teachers, please send in your surveys for Tosca . Students please send us your thoughts on Tosca, whether you loved it or hated it. Your review should be at least 50 words or more. I nclude your first name, school and grade in your post. Don't forget to support your opinion! Video Clips of the Week! Liked Tosca ? This week's video clips feature other great Puccini operas. The first clip is from La Fanciulla del West which translates to "The Golden Girl of the West". The Opera takes place in California during the 1850's gold rush. A mysterious stranger, Johnson, shows up at the miner's camp and falls in love with the local bar owner, Minnie. The sheriff Rance, who is in love with Minnie himself, is suspicious of the newcomer and discovers that J...