Lectures by Will Crutchfield
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Archives - Summer 2020 < I >

June 2  Plagiarism or Homage?  As we delve into lesser-known operas and songs, we're often startled to find a phrase we know from Carmen, La traviata, or L'elisir d'amore. Today a songwriter's agent would call in the lawyers. What does it mean that the 19th century saw things so differently?

June 9  Wagner's Hymn to Normalcy  Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg stands out among Wagner's major operas: The only one that is historical rather than mythical, the only one without supernatural elements, the only comedy. (And the only comedy in all operatic history whose last act is best.)  

June 16  A Perfect Opera  The 21st century is so rich in revivals of little-known Bel Canto masterpieces that we can sometimes take Lucia di Lammermoor almost for granted - but in fact it has as strong a claim as any to be considered a flawless example of music-drama.  

June 23  Forgotten Greats, Season Two  Since so many members mentioned enjoying the first installment on this topic:  Artists who for one reason or another did not find major careers, but left enough souvenirs to show that they deserved them. 

June 30  Maestro Vaccai Nicola Vaccai (1790-1848) was only moderately successful as an opera composer in the Age of Rossini - but he had one hit that would have made him a multi-millionaire if international copyright laws had existed in 1832. His bright idea:  distilling the main skills of Bel Canto into 22 catchy little ariettas, lasting less than a minute each, for the vast amateur market.  

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Questions? Please email WillCrutchfieldAssistant@gmail.com