UD's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute announces series highlighting operas

8:10 a.m., Feb. 1, 2013--Beginning Feb. 15, Larry Peterson, University of Delaware professor emeritus, will present a series of lectures highlighting operas that will be broadcast or performed locally.

By attending the lectures, which are free and open to the public, participants can enrich their viewing experience with background information on the operas, the composers, the performers and the lavish productions.

Campus Stories

From graduates, faculty

As it neared time for the processional to open the University of Delaware Commencement ceremonies, graduating students and faculty members shared their feelings about what the event means to them.

Doctoral hooding

It was a day of triumph, cheers and collective relief as more than 160 students from 21 nations participated in the University of Delaware's Doctoral Hooding Convocation held Friday morning on The Green.

• Doctoral hooding
• Old Swedes
• Summer SAT, ACT prep
• 'Opus 13' pre-sale

The series will feature operas that are either high-definition (HD) broadcasts of live Metropolitan Opera performances; Theatre N screenings in Wilmington; or OperaDelaware live performances at Wilmington’s Grand Opera House. Advance purchase of Met HD performances is recommended.

The lectures will take place in Room 124 Arsht Hall on UD’s Wilmington Campus, 2700 Pennsylvania Ave. Lectures are held on selected Fridays, from 12:30-1:45 p.m.

The schedule of lectures is as follows. The movie theatre dates are the first screening; others may be available.

• Verdi's Rigoletto (new production) --Met HD Broadcast. Lecture Feb. 15; in movie theatres Feb. 16, 12:55 p.m., with an encore presentation March 6, at 6:30 p.m. Director Michael Mayer placed his production in Las Vegas in 1960. Cast: Piotr Beczala (Duke), Željko Lucic (Rigoletto), and Diana Damrau (Gilda).

• Puccini's Tosca -- Theatre N Screening. Lecture March 22; at Theatre N, March 24 and 26, tenatively 2:30 p.m. Royal Opera House production designed by Jonathan Kent. Cast: Angela Gheorghiu (Tosca), Jonas Kaufmann (Calvaradossi), Bryn Terfel (Scarpia). 

• Handel's Giulio Cesare in Egitto (new production) -- Met HD Broadcast. Lecture April 26; in movie theatres, April 27, at noon, with an encore presentation May 15, at 6:30 p.m. Cast: David Daniels (Cesar), Natalie Dessay (Cleopatra).  Harry Bicket, conducts.

• Verdi’s Macbeth -- OperaDelaware performances. Lecture May 3; performances at the Grand Opera House, May 5, 2 p.m., and May 10 and 11, 7:30 p.m.

Peterson is professor emeritus at UD, where he taught for 30 years.  He has published articles in numerous journals and been honored for his work using multimedia technology to teach opera. Peterson currently teaches the “Let’s Go to the Opera” class at Osher.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware in Wilmington is a membership organization for adults 50 and over to enjoy classes, teach, exchange ideas and travel together. For more information about the program, visit the website. Similar programs are offered through UD in Dover and in Lewes.

For further information, call the Osher Institute at 302-573-4417.