Sounds of Learning

Welcome to Opera- Online! It's been a big week for the Opera Company of Philadelphia. On Tuesday the Company announced the repertoire for its 2009-2010 season. It includes some of the world's most favorite operas and one that's never been seen before in Philadelphia. It's an amazingly exciting season. For more information on next season, click here to visit our website. Be Our Guest! Also, we'd like to invite you to attend A Taste of Opera, the Company's FREE recital on Turandot. It's at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts at 128 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia on Sunday, February 15, 2009 from 2:00-3:00 PM. If you'd like to go, just email outreach@operaphila.org with your name and the number of people going with you. Reservations are required for this event. For more information about A Taste of Opera, please visit our website. Youtube Clip of the Week This week we have two "Clips of the Week", both feature Calaf's famous ari...

Welcome to Opera Online! We're still in Turandot mode at Opera-Online! We're gearing up for next month's Sounds of Learning event when students from across the Delaware Valley will come to Philadelphia 's beautiful Academy of Music to see Puccini's grand fairy tale. We've got a great video clip of the week and website of the week for you, too, that are sure to help you get ready for Turandot ! Youtube Clip of the Week This week we'll see a clip of dramatic soprano Francesca Patanè singing the title role of Turandot. Ms. Patanè will be singing the role for the Opera Company in this production. In this clip, we'll hear Turandot's famous aria "In questa reggia" ("Within this kingdom") in which Turandot explains to Calaf, the Unknown Prince, why she tests her suitors to answer the three riddles. Website of the Week Our website of the week is our Company's own. Our featured article is an interview with soprano Francesca Patanè. ...

Welcome to the first edition of Opera Online! To kick of this week's clip of the week, we're turning to a tune that Puccini used throughout his opera Turandot . Here is a performance of the traditional Chinese folk song Jasmine Flowers. This music is used in association with Princess Turandot throughout the opera. The first time this music is heard is at the end of the mammoth chorus "Gira la cote!" (Grind the whetstone) in Act I as the temple boys walk through the streets of Peiking. Here are the lyrics to the song: Flower of jasmine, oh so fair! Flower of jasmine, oh so fair! Budding and blooming here and there, Pure and fragrant all declare. Let me take you with tender care, Your sweetness for all to share. Jasmine fair, oh jasmine fair. Our website of the week features soprano Ermonela Jaho who sings the role of the slave girl Liu. Get to know a little bit about Ermonela, see photos of her, and more at her official website . Until next week...

Sounds of Learning TM Student Dress Rehearsal Gioacchino Rossini's The Italian Girl in Algiers Wednesday, November 12, 2008 6:15 p.m. Students in the Opera Company of Philadelphia's Sounds of Learning program saw the final dress rehearsal of Rossini's comic opera, The Italian Girl in Algiers , on Wednesday, November 12th. The opera is brilliantly funny and the Opera Company's production can almost be described as slapstick. Isabella, a beautiful woman from Italy, is searching the seas for her fiance Lindoro who she fears has been taken captive by pirates. She suffers the same fate when she becomes shipwrecked in the North African country, Algiers. Lo and behold who happens to be there but her long lost Lindoro. While there she turns the tables on the Bey to win her freedom and her Lindoro's so that they can happily return to Italy. Now that you've studied the opera and seen it, what were your impressions? Tell us what you think and post your reviews here! ...

Sounds of Learning TM Student Dress Rehearsal Ludwig van Beethoven's Fidelio Wednesday, October 08, 2008 2:15 p.m. Students in the Opera Company of Philadelphia's Sounds of Learning program saw the final dress rehearsal of Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio , on Wednesday, October 8th. The opera opens as a comedy with Marzelline and Jaquino's quarrel, then turns dark and melodramatic when Leonore enters, disguised as Fidelio, searching for her lost husband Florestan. Then the opera ends in a burst of joy at Florestan's freedom. 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? Which was your favorite character? Did you like the sets and projections? Click here if you want to learn more about Beethoven, Fidelio , or singers in the production. JOIN OUR OPERA EMAIL LIST! Email education@operaphila.org and we'll deliver free opera right into your inbox once a wee...

Sounds of Learning TM Student Dress Rehearsal George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Wednesday, February 09, 2007 2:15 p.m. Gershwin's Porgy and Bess is one of the greatest operas ever written, and now you've gotten the chance to see this American classic. Tell us what you think and post your reviews here! Would you consider it a great classic? Did you like the opera? Which was your favorite character? What was your favorite song? How did Bess change during the opera?

Sounds of Learning TM Student Dress Rehearsal Gioacchino Rossini's Cinderella Monday, November 06, 2006 6:15 p.m. Now that you've attended the final dress rehearsal of Rossini's Cinderella, tell us what you thought about the rehearsal and post your reviews here! Did you like the opera? Which was your favorite character? What was the meaning behind the gold picture frames on the stage? Were the stepsisters mean or funny? What would you do if you were in Cinderella's situation?

Sounds of Learning TM Student Dress Rehearsal Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème Tuesday, October 24, 2006 6:15 p.m. Now that you've attended the final dress rehearsal of Puccini's La Bohème as the conclusion of the Sounds of Learning TM program, tell us what you thought about the rehearsal and post your reviews here! Did you like the opera? How were the singers? Were they believable? How were the sets and costumes? What do you think happens to the characters after the curtain falls?