Opera 101 at The Sandcastle, Kiawah Island

A sequel to Opera Light (hosted by the late Dr. John Benzel) and Exploring Opera (Ms. Shellagh Emmott), this newly designed, weekly (Tuesdays, 2-4:00 pm) Opera 101 series activity at The Sandcastle will include Italian, French, German and Russian works, beginning with Verdi’s Rigoletto (January 4, 2022) and ending with R. Strauss’ Elektra (April 1). Naive and experienced opera lovers from all our neighboring islands are welcome. Synopses of each opera will be published and distributed in advance so that attendees can more fully focus on the music and drama virtuosity. Video clips from selected DVDs or movies will be shown with the opportunity to discuss and contrast differing performances.

Participants in Opera 101 will enjoy watching superb opera video clips from selected DVDs or movies with opportunities to discuss music passages as well as singing and drama virtuosity.

Jan. 4 – Rigoletto/Verdi/dramatic Synopsis: Rigoletto (The Metropolitan Opera)
Jan. 11 – Tosca/Puccini/dramatic Synopsis: Tosca (The Metropolitan Opera)
Jan. 18 (Bobcat Hall) – Lucia di Lammermoor/Donizetti/dramatic Lucia di Lammermoor (The Metropolitan Opera)
Jan. 25 – Il Barbieri di Siviglia/Rossini/comic Il Barbarie di Siviglia (The Metropolitan Opera)

Feb. 1 – Don Giovanni/Mozart/classical
Feb. 8 – La Traviata/Verdi/dramatic
Feb. 15 – Les Contes d’Hoffmann/Offenbach/French
Feb. 22 – Eugene Onegin/Tchaikovsky/Russian

March 1 – Don Carlo/Verdi/grand
March 8 (Bobcat Hall) – Tannhauser/Wagner/German
March 15 (Bobcat Hall) – Die Walkure/Wagner/German epic
March 22 – Elektra/R.Strauss/psychological
March 29 – Symposium

Note Location Change: January 18, March 8, and March 15 will be held at 23 Beachwalker Dr., Bobcat Hall.

Please check the KICA calendar of events to see the schedule, to review the synopsis and to verify the location of the meeting. For more information, contact Jose A. Rafols at j.rafols@aol.com.

-Submitted by Jose A. Rafols