Free Lecture/Listening Series
For many years, Opera Guild of Rochester has delivered free lectures on a wide range of opera topics. We do these to provide historical background and musical context for operas and composers, and to present operas that the audience might otherwise not have access to or that might prove difficult to understand or appreciate.
To supplement, you may browse our library of lectures and opera performance essays.
Fairport Public Library
1 Fairport Village Landing
Fall 2023
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 8 • 7-8:45 pm
Forbidden Fruit :
Bringing Turandot Home to Beijing's Forbidden City
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 25 • 7-8:45 pm
Verdi's MacBeth
Carol Crocca
Verdi and Shakespeare: Macbeth
Join us on October 25 at 7pm for witches, ghosts, murder and madness – Verdi’s foray into the realm of folklore, just in time for Halloween!
Scenes from the play by the Royal Shakespeare Company with Ian McKellan and Judi Dench are transformed into the opera production of Opernhouse Zurich, with Thomas Hampson and Paola Marracu.
In addition to many scenes from Verdi’s spooky and lyrical drama, his process and the transition from play to opera will be discussed.
Forbidden Fruit: Bringing Puccini’s Turandot Home to Beijing’s Forbidden City
For years the government of China prohibited the performance of Puccini’s Turandot – an opera set in mythical ancient China. Conductor Zubin Mehta successfully worked to bring Turandot “home” to the Forbidden City.
On November 8 at 7pm, Opera Guild board member Cindy Battisti will present this new lecture with highlights from this beloved grand opera. The centerpiece of the plot: Any prince seeking to marry Princess Turandot must answer three riddles. If he fails, he will die. The ultra famous aria, Nessun Dorma draws fans to this opera time and time again.
Brighton Memorial Library
2300 Elmwood Ave
Spring 2023
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 6 • 6-7:45 pm
Inside Archives of Sibley Music Library
Jim Farrington and David Coppen
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 13 • 6-7:45 pm
Forbidden Fruit :
Bringing Turandot Home to Beijing's Forbidden City
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 20 • 6-7:45 pm
TBA
Constance Fee
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 27 • 6-7:45 pm
Verdi's MacBeth
Carol Crocca
Cindy Battisti prepares to deliver her 2022 Lecture, Magical Moments from the Ring Cycle
Board member Art Axelrod presents his Opera Duets lecture on October 6, 2021 to an interested crowd.
FREE
Lecture/Listening Series
Brighton Memorial Library
2300 Elmwood Ave
Spring 2023