Sounds of Learning

Celebrating the Leap Year! For today's Opera Online session we'll celebrate the birth of the great Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini , born on February 29, 1792, American soprano Reri Grist who was born on that day, and the debut of Meyerbeer's grand opera Les Huguenots on February 29, 1836. Gioachino Rossini, born in Italy 220 years ago (February 29, 1792), began his musical ca reer at age 6 playing the triangle in his father’s musical group. To earn money as a child, he began working in a blacksmith shop. However, because he had a beautiful voice, at age 10 he joined the adult church choir--and from that point his musical career began in earnest. He wrote 39 operas, the most famous of which is the comic opera The Barber of Seville , which he wrote in 12 days. The Rabbit of Seville cartoon as Bugs Bunny cuts Elmer Fudd’s hair to the opera’s music. Here's the popular American baritone Thomas Hampson singing Figaro's famous aria from The Barber of Seville, the ...

Welcome Students and Teachers to Opera Online!! Students in the Opera Company of Philadelphia's Sounds of Learning program saw the final dress rehearsal of Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at the Academy of Music. Now that you've spent time using the study guides, reading through the libretto, hearing the music in class and attending the final dress rehearsal, tell us what you thought about the opera! In at least 50 words, write your review! All reviews must include your first name, your school name, and your grade. Don't forget to tell us why you liked or didn't like the opera. Support your position! You can talk about the sets, costumes, the characters, and the movie clips used in the piece. Did you like that the stage jutted out over the orchestra pit? What was the funniest moment? Share your thoughts here and you can be a published blogger! Opera on the Air! On Saturday, February 18th at 1 PM radio station WRTI will br...