Join us to explore the history of opera over three enjoyable terms. In this first term we’ll explore the ideas that fuelled origins of opera and the wonderful world of Baroque opera seria. Break Week: 30th Oct 2026
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This is the first of three modules of Exploring Opera, but each module can be taken as a stand-alone course. In Exploring opera 1 we focus on the earliest operas at the turn of the 17th century through to the reforms of the late 18th century.
What will we cover?
- The origins of opera: Bardi’s Camerata and Monteverdi’s early style - Recitative and aria, the building blocks of opera - The importance of the Orpheus legend - French 5-act operas - Purcell and opera/semi opera in English - Handel’s London opera seria - The Beggar’s Opera - Operatic reform of Metastasio, Gluck and early Mozart.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Discuss individual operas and their social and political context - Understand the circumstances of each opera’s composition and first performance - Discuss the place of these operas in the context of their composers’ lives and work.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for those with some familiarity in listening to a particular composer or opera, having taken a previous beginners course, or a willingness to undertake short reading tasks between sessions. We may look at music scores and identify key features of music notation, but this will not be the main focus of the studies.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Tutor presentation, guided listening and watching, class discussion and debate. Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a notebook and pen to make your own notes. If you would like to read a textbook alongside this course we recommend The Oxford Illustrated History of Opera by Roger Parker (OUP, 1994), but this is not essential for your enjoyment of the course. You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend live performances.
City Lit offers a wide range of Music history courses. For more information, visit our Guide to the Music history programme. You may also be interested in our Music theory and musicianship offer, or one of our many practical music courses.
We’re sorry. We don’t have a bio ready for the tutor of this class at the moment, but we’re working on it! Watch this space.
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In this first term we’ll explore the ideas that fuelled origins of opera and the wonderful world of Baroque opera seria. <strong>Break Week: 30th Oct 2026</strong></p>0000-Available|2026-09-25 00:00:00<p>This is the first of three modules of Exploring Opera, but each module can be taken as a stand-alone course.<br/>In Exploring opera 1 we focus on the earliest operas at the turn of the 17th century through to the reforms of the late 18th century.</p><p>Join us to explore the history of opera over three enjoyable terms. In this first term we’ll explore the ideas that fuelled origins of opera and the wonderful world of Baroque opera seria. <strong>Break Week: 30th Oct 2026</strong></p>- The origins of opera: Bardi’s Camerata and Monteverdi’s early style<br/>- Recitative and aria, the building blocks of opera<br/>- The importance of the Orpheus legend<br/>- French 5-act operas<br/>- Purcell and opera/semi opera in English<br/>- Handel’s London opera seria<br/>- The Beggar’s Opera<br/>- Operatic reform of Metastasio, Gluck and early Mozart.- Discuss individual operas and their social and political context<br/>- Understand the circumstances of each opera’s composition and first performance<br/>- Discuss the place of these operas in the context of their composers’ lives and work.This course is for those with some familiarity in listening to a particular composer or opera, having taken a previous beginners course, or a willingness to undertake short reading tasks between sessions. We may look at music scores and identify key features of music notation, but this will not be the main focus of the studies.Tutor presentation, guided listening and watching, class discussion and debate.<br/>Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.Please bring a notebook and pen to make your own notes. If you would like to read a textbook alongside this course we recommend The Oxford Illustrated History of Opera by Roger Parker (OUP, 1994), but this is not essential for your enjoyment of the course.<br/>You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend live performances.<p>This course is followed by <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/exploring-opera-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exploring Opera 2 next term</a>.</p><p><br/>City Lit offers a wide range of <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Music history courses</a>. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Guide to the Music history programme</a>.<br/>You may also be interested in our Music theory and musicianship offer, or one of our many practical music courses.</p>MusicMusic historyvirtual239299209MD997NONEFri25/09/26 - 04/12/2610:30 - 12:3010:3012:3010 sessions (over 11 weeks)105-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayOnlineOnlineSome experienceAvailable courses2026-09-25T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Performing arts299299Exploring opera 1exploring-opera-1/md997-2627<p>Join us to explore the history of opera over three enjoyable terms. In this first term we’ll explore the ideas that fuelled origins of opera and the wonderful world of Baroque opera seria. <strong>Break Week: 30th Oct 2026</strong></p>0000-Available|2026-09-25 00:00:00<p>This is the first of three modules of Exploring Opera, but each module can be taken as a stand-alone course.<br/>In Exploring opera 1 we focus on the earliest operas at the turn of the 17th century through to the reforms of the late 18th century.</p><p>Join us to explore the history of opera over three enjoyable terms. In this first term we’ll explore the ideas that fuelled origins of opera and the wonderful world of Baroque opera seria. <strong>Break Week: 30th Oct 2026</strong></p>- The origins of opera: Bardi’s Camerata and Monteverdi’s early style<br/>- Recitative and aria, the building blocks of opera<br/>- The importance of the Orpheus legend<br/>- French 5-act operas<br/>- Purcell and opera/semi opera in English<br/>- Handel’s London opera seria<br/>- The Beggar’s Opera<br/>- Operatic reform of Metastasio, Gluck and early Mozart.- Discuss individual operas and their social and political context<br/>- Understand the circumstances of each opera’s composition and first performance<br/>- Discuss the place of these operas in the context of their composers’ lives and work.This course is for those with some familiarity in listening to a particular composer or opera, having taken a previous beginners course, or a willingness to undertake short reading tasks between sessions. We may look at music scores and identify key features of music notation, but this will not be the main focus of the studies.Tutor presentation, guided listening and watching, class discussion and debate.<br/>Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.Please bring a notebook and pen to make your own notes. If you would like to read a textbook alongside this course we recommend The Oxford Illustrated History of Opera by Roger Parker (OUP, 1994), but this is not essential for your enjoyment of the course.<br/>You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend live performances.<p>This course is followed by <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/exploring-opera-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exploring Opera 2 next term</a>.</p><p><br/>City Lit offers a wide range of <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Music history courses</a>. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Guide to the Music history programme</a>.<br/>You may also be interested in our Music theory and musicianship offer, or one of our many practical music courses.</p>MusicMusic historyconfigurable
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