REHEARSAL OFFERINGS

SEP 18, 2015 11:00AM ITALIAN NOTABLE LITERARY CONNECTIONS Based on the epic Turan-Dokht from the novel Haft-Peykar by the 12th-century Persian poet Nizami. ALL AGES Puccini OPERA NOTES Overflowing with Puccini’s iconic melodious style, Turandot was unfinished at the 3 HOURS time of Puccini’s death, and was completed by Franco Alfano in 1926.

OCT 13, 2015 10:30AM NOTES Puccini’s character-driven drama featuring heart-wrenching arias. Tosca* HIGH SCHOOL AND UP Puccini CONTEMPORARY 3 HOURS 15 MIN.

OCT 16, 2015 11:00AM ITALIAN OPERA NOTES Verdi’s classic tale of a cursed father gets an update to 1960’s Las Vegas. Rigoletto* HIGH SCHOOL AND UP Verdi CONTEMPORARY 3 HOURS 15 MIN.

NOV 19, 2015 10:30AM ITALIAN NOTABLE LITERARY CONNECTIONS Based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger. La Bohème# ALL AGES Puccini OPERA NOTES One of the most-performed operas in history, this story of bohemian 3 HOURS life in 1840’s inspired the hit musical Rent.

DEC 1, 2015 10:30AM ENGLISH NOTABLE LITERARY CONNECTIONS Based on Das Gefängnis, by German playwright Julius Roderich Benedix, and the Die Fledermaus# ALL AGES vaudeville play Le réveillon, by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. StrauSS Jr. 3 HOURS 30 MIN. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE Sung in English, Die Fledermaus is a high-spirited opera, containing several Viennese waltz and polka themes throughout the work.

DEC 8, 2015 10:30AM ITALIAN HISTORICAL ELEMENTS Set in 16th-century Scotland, the imprisonment of King James V by the Earl of Angus and the La Donna del Lago MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP King's subsequent retaliation on the Earl's family set the events of the opera in motion. roSSini 3 HOURS 20 MIN. NOTABLE LITERARY CONNECTIONS La Donna del Lago is based on Sir Walter Scott’s narrative poem The Lady of the Lake.

JAN 26, 2016 10:30AM ITALIAN HISTORICAL ELEMENTS Maria Stuarda is loosely based on the lives of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her cousin Maria Stuarda MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP Queen Elizabeth in the 16th century—though the pair never met in real life! donizetti 2 HOURS 45 MIN. OPERA NOTES Maria Stuarda contains some of Donizetti’s most moving music, and is referred to as one of the “Three Donizetti Queen” operas because it vaguely follows the Tudor family history.

The following keys and symbols are designed to guide your # No more than two classes (up * Productions with this symbol All timings are approximate. Please presented as part of the Access review of rehearsal offerings and help you select the opera to 70 tickets) per school will be may contain nudity and adult remember that an opera is a work of Opera program is at the discretion best suited for your students and classroom. accommodated for this opera. themes that are not appropriate art and always open to interpretation. of the . for younger students. The final rendering of any opera

HISTORICAL ELEMENTS NOTABLE LITERARY CONNECTIONS OPERA NOTES ON THE LIGHTER SIDE CONTEMPORARY PRODUCTION DESIGN NEW MET PRODUCTION The opera and/or production includes The story of the opera is either based These notes provide insightful The opera and/or production Newer productions that use This offering is a new production historical references, ranging from on or comes directly from a well- information about both familiar and includes comedic moments and light- technology and non-traditional that will be premiering at the settings and time periods to stories or known author or piece of literature. obscure works alike. hearted story lines. settings and/or production elements. Metropolitan Opera this season. events with historical significance. 6 REHEARSAL OFFERINGS (CONTINUED)

FEB 9, 2016 10:30AM ITALIAN NOTABLE LITERARY CONNECTIONS Manon Lescaut is based on the 1731 novel L’Histoire du chevalier des Manon Lescaut HIGH SCHOOL AND UP Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by the Abbé Prévost. Puccini CONTEMPORARY OPERA NOTES 2 HOURS 45 MIN. NEW PRODUCTION Puccini was passionate about telling the story of Manon Lescaut—even though a successful opera had already been written by Jules Massenet just nine years earlier.

FEB 22, 2016 11:00AM ITALIAN NOTABLE LITERARY CONNECTIONS Mozart’s adaptation of the infamous play by Pierre-Augustin Beaumarchais. Le Nozze di Figaro ALL AGES Mozart CONTEMPORARY OPERA NOTES Considered by many to be Mozart’s greatest opera, Figaro has been translated into numerous 3 HOURS 45 MIN. languages and frequently performed throughout the world since its premiere in 1786.

FEB 29, 2016 10:30AM ITALIAN OPERA NOTES The premiere of Don Pasquale in 1843 was a great success and final musical achievement Don Pasquale ALL AGES that Donizetti would remember. This would be his third to last opera. donizetti 2 HOURS 45 MIN. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE A classic opera buffa, full of buoyant energy and challenging music for the performers.

MAR 7, 2016 10:30AM ITALIAN OPERA NOTES A classic in the Italian bel canto style. L’Elisir d’Amore# ALL AGES donizetti ON THE LIGHTER SIDE A light-hearted romantic comedy with comical and endearing characters. 2 HOURS 45 MIN.

MAR 29, 2016 10:30AM ITALIAN HISTORICAL ELEMENTS Simon Boccanegra mirrors the historical drama of the Doge of Genoa in the 1300s. Simon Boccanegra MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP Verdi OPERA NOTES Boccanegra’s libretto was first written by Francesco Piave, who was also the librettist for Verdi’s Rigoletto 3 HOURS and La Traviata, and later revised by Arrigo Boito, who was the librettist for Verdi’s Otello and Falstaff.

APR 11, 2016 10:30AM GERMAN HISTORICAL ELEMENTS Based on the ancient Greek mythological story, this opera follows the vengeful life and destruction of Elektra. Elektra HIGH SCHOOL AND UP StrauSS CONTEMPORARY OPERA NOTES This one-act opera is one of the earliest works to use polytonality. The instruments and vocal lines 1 HOUR 45 MIN. NEW PRODUCTION are often grouped into layers, each of which works within a different key or melodic structure.

APR 20, 2016 10:30AM GERMAN OPERA NOTES Die Entführung aus dem Serail was first financed by the national Viennese Die Entführung ALL AGES project, Nationalsingspiel, when Mozart was only 25 years old.

aus dem Serail ON THE LIGHTER SIDE A classic Mozart Singspiel comic opera, this work uses spoken dialogue to move the plot of the story along. Mozart 3 HOURS 5 MIN.

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