Opera Guild of Rochester: Viva Voce - March 2023

Arts and Entertainment

March 17, 2023

Our spring lecture series kicks off with four events at Brighton Memorial Library

The Development of an Opera Singer

"The Slow Cooker process in a Microwave Age"

Opera Guild board member, Director of Vocal Studies and Associate Professor of Vocal Performance at Roberts Wesleyan University, Constance Fee will unveil her perspective and insights on the development of a voice for a professional-level operatic singing career. Formerly a performer of leading roles in the US and throughout Europe, Constance will provide a backstage view of the many qualities that go into the making of an operatic artist including expressive skill, instinctive musical phrasing, poetic sensitivity, artistic curiosity, facility with languages, good physical condition, self-discipline, patience, the ability to benefit from criticism and to persist in spite of rejection.

Don't miss this unique lecture on March 8 at 7pm!

The Tenor Voice in French Opera

On March 15 at 6 pm board member Peter Dundas will present his lecture that compares and contrast the vocal styles of some of the most notable tenors who have sung the French opera repertoire. You'll see clips of Jonas Kaufmann, Neil Shicoff, Alfredo Kraus and other modern day masters of Carmen, Werther and other favorite operas. Another treat will be Juan Diego Florez wooing the ladies with his smiles and his high Cs in Le Comte Ory.

Magical Moments from the Ring!

An Introduction to Wagner’s Four Opera Epic

No need to be intimidated by Wagner’s four opera epic as we boil the 16 hour story down to under 2 hours! Come learn about the iconic mythological characters and their dramatic relationships. Learn how Wagner uses musical themes (leitmotifs) that build upon each other to represent characters, places and ideas in the four operas that comprise this master work: Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung.

Join us on March 22 at 6 pm for a story-based look at the epic Ring cycle by Cindy Battisti, Opera’ Guild’s social media volunteer, featuring some beautiful and iconic music.

Cindy uses a unique production by Opera North out of Leeds in the United Kingdom to introduce the story of Wagner’s Ring. A semi-staged production, it uses video elements and captioned storytelling to help us understand the intricate narrative.

Puccini Plum: La fanciulla del west

Our final lecture is March 29 at 6 pm, Opera Guild’s president Carol Crocca will premiere her latest lecture highlighting one of Puccini’s masterwork, La fanciulla del west, the story of a rogue bandit using the alias Dick Johnson, his romance with strong, independent bar owner Minnie, and Johnson's unmasking, capture and eventual release.

Learn More

These lectures, interspersed with video clips, will be held at the Brighton Memorial Library, 2300 Elmwood Ave., and are free. All are welcome for this great chance to learn in a fun and entertaining way.

Special thanks to Brighton Memorial Library.

Upcoming Event

Bravo Nights at the Little Cafe:
4/24/23: Eastman vocal students will perform

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