Music: Opera in Focus: Verdi and Wagner

Course overview

Verdi and Wagner are giants in the world of opera. Their output was (one way or another) vast and deeply influential, and it is essential listening for anyone who wants to know more about the genre.

Yet it might also seem odd to place them side-by-side: the lyrical Italian tunesmith behind Il Trovatore and La Traviata might at first glance seem to have nothing at all in common with the densely philosophical Germanic creator of such monoliths as Der Ring des Nibelungen and Parsifal. However, their sources of influence, the times they lived through, and their deep concern over issues such as text, drama, and national identity overlap more than we might expect.

This course explores the lives of these two composers in parallel, moving from their inspirations in the early nineteenth century all the way through to the heights of their fame and to their late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century successors.

Sessions will cover themes such as national concerns, comedy and drama in opera, and legacy, as well as technical aspects of text and music. Key operas will be analysed in relation to biography and context, with audio-visual examples and opportunities for discussion.

This course is open to everyone, with no previous experience necessary. All welcome!

Any questions?

If you have any questions about the content of this course please contact the tutor, Dr Bruno Bower, at b.bower@imperial.ac.uk 

If you have any questions about enrolment please contact the Imperial after:hours Administrator, Christian Jacobi, at c.jacobi@imperial.ac.uk

Class recordings

These classes are not recorded.

Imperial certificates

There are no examinations or assessments for this course. However, attendance can lead to the award of an Imperial attendance certificate (T&Cs apply).