The Metropolitan Opera Guild Announces New Programs For 2018 Season

The Metropolitan Opera Guild, a premier arts education organization dedicated to enriching people's lives through opera, announced new programs for the 2018 season. These programs will supplement the Metropolitan Opera Guild's robust spring schedule of lectures and events.

"We are pleased to announce some new and additional programming for Spring 2018," said Stuart Holt, Director of School Programs and Community Engagement, Metropolitan Opera Guild. "In addition to our Continuing Education classes which provide a multitude of diverse ways to be educated on all aspects of this art form, this lineup offers unique insights into the opera world."

The recently announced programs include:

In the Mouth of the Wolf (March 27, 7:00pm- 9:00pm): In 1963, CBS followed soprano Margherita Roberti and co-stars Renato Cioni and Piero Cappuccilli in a new production of Verdi's Luisa Miller. This year marks the show's return to the Metropolitan Opera stage for its first performances in 10 years. Join August Ventura as he explores the opera and shares In the Mouth of the Wolf, unseen after airing just once on U.S. television 54 years ago.

Maria Callas at Ninety-Five - A Birthday Salute (May 1 and May 8, 2:00pm-3:30pm): Internationally renowned opera star Maria Callas captivated audiences with her iconic opera performances and defined what it meant to be a diva. Forty years after her death, Callas remains one of the towering figures of opera. Join Jane Marsh in this two-part series as she explores Callas' voice as well as her decidedly trend-setting artistic prowess and style.

Celebrating Historic Met Moments: This season has seen two historic moments on the Met stage: Soprano Audrey Luna hitting the highest note ever sung at the Met and Angel Blue and Russell Thomas being the first artists of color to share the Met stage as Mimì and Rudolfo. Join lecturer Naomi Barrettara for this two-part series that will explore significant moments throughout Met Opera history, from famous firsts to broken records.

Part 1 - Famous Firsts: May 15, 2:00pm-3:30pm

Part 2 - Broken Records: May 17, 2:00pm-3:30pm

Also offered this spring are the Metropolitan Opera Guild's Continuing Education classes designed to provide life-long learning opportunities for those interested in delving deeper into subject matter in a college classroom-style setting.

The Continuing Education classes available include:

Librettists of the Season (January 23, 30, February 6, 13, 6:30pm-8:00pm): This course will explore the life and work of librettists represented on the Met Opera season, including Lorenzo Da Ponte, Salvatore Cammarano, Michael Carré, Jules Barber, Luigi Illica, and Giuseppe Giacosa. Classroom lectures led by Naomi Barrettara, assigned readings and listening will focus on source materials behind operatic libretto texts. The process of adaptation and interpretation of texts within operatic frameworks, and the relationship between composers and librettists at different points in opera history will also be explored.

Writing for the Opera Orchestra (April 5, 12, 19, 6:30pm-8:00pm): This course will focus on how different composers represented on the Met Opera season utilize the instruments in the operatic orchestra, specifically examining individual musical styles, compositional strategies, and the unique treatment of instrument timbres in weaving together an orchestral fabric of sound. Classroom lectures led by Victoria Bond will explore the growth of the orchestra and different instrumental functions within the dramatic musical structures.

Registration is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information and for the full selection of classes and ticket prices visit Metguild.org or call 212-769-7023

The Metropolitan Opera Guild is a premier arts education organization dedicated to enriching people's lives through the magic and artistry of opera. The Guild fosters personal expression, confidence, literacy and collaboration in children with customized education programs integrated into the curriculum of their schools, and builds a deeper appreciation of opera in adults through workshops and community programs, and by publishing Opera News, the world's leading opera magazine. Through its unique relationship with the Metropolitan Opera, the Guild offers all audiences unique access to the artists, performances and majesty of one of the world's most renowned performing arts companies. For more information about The Metropolitan Opera Guild and its programs, visit metguild.org.

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