How to Listen to and Understand Opera

By: Robert Greenberg, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Robert Greenberg

Length: 24 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

To watch any opera lover listen to a favorite work, eyes clenched tight in concentration and passion, often betraying a tear, is to be almost envious. What must it be like, you might think, to love a piece of music so much?

And now one of music's most gifted teachers is offering you the opportunity to answer that very question, in a spellbinding series of 32 lectures that will introduce you to the transcendentally beautiful performing art that has enthralled audiences for more than 400 years.

As you meet the geniuses - including the likes of Monteverdi, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, and Puccini - who have produced some of the landmark artistic achievements of the form, and listen to many of their most beautiful moments, you'll grasp how the addition of music can reveal truths beyond what mere spoken words can convey, and how opera's unique marriage of words and music makes the whole far greater than the sum of its parts.

Beginning with opera's origins in the early 17th century and continuing into the 20th, you'll trace the art's evolution and its ability to convey every shade of human emotion, whether sorrow or joy, drama or buffoonery. You'll understand how different types of voices enhance character. And you'll understand how the invention of the aria gave operatic composers a new power to make human emotions soar, adding to the impact of what continues to be one of the most beautiful musical forms ever devised.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©1997 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)1997 The Great Courses

Outstanding

I love this series. The narrator has a unique gift of making hundreds of years of opera history accessible, entertaining and enlightening. Worth every minute.

Professor Greenberg is natural storyteller.

Would you listen to How to Listen to and Understand Opera again? Why?

Yes I would! Although the content is just what I was looking for, I wasn't expecting the wonderful sense of humor and passionate involvement of professor Greenberg. I just loved it.

Robert Greenberg never disapoints

His knowledge, presentation and humor makes each one of his TGC a must listen.
It is worth every minute and penny.
Do not miss any of his presentations.
As for How to listen to and understand Opera is a must for beginners or mature Opera llovers.
Thank you!

The Fat Lady Will Never Sing for this one

Would you consider the audio edition of How to Listen to and Understand Opera to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, so I really could not compare the two. However, if you simply read the work, you would miss out on all the wonderful music clips used throughout.

What did you like best about this story?

Professor Greenberg's humorous way of dealing with what could be a fairly dry topic.

Which character – as performed by Professor Robert Greenberg – was your favorite?

Now I can't see that this really applies. He covers a lot of territory in the history of opera. Figero is certainly memorable, but I wouldn't necessarily call him a favorite. Otello was also well done.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This question so does not apply to this work.

Any additional comments?

This is my second "Great Course" audio book performed by Professor Greenberg. He clearly enjoys his topic -- music -- and is adept at couching history in modern terms without getting tooo campy about it. I enjoyed this book and "how to listen and appreciate music" very much. Both added a great deal to my appreciation of music history and classical format.

Greenberg is awesome

Prof Greenberg makes every topic understandable and fun. I would buy any audiobook he did.

Opera 101.

Another Great Course by The Great Courses. Explains the history and the purpose of opera. This professor loves his opera and is a pretty funny guy. Which is good because this course, like Cosi fan Tutte, goes on...and on... As a budding opera aficionado, these lectures have helped me appreciate, understand, and enjoy the operas I have been attending.

Buy this!

Dr. Greenberg never fails to deliver. This course was engaging, informative, and entertaining. Whatever you do, buy this course!

Opera the movies of the 1800"s

Any course by Robert is worth the time. I listened to this over a year ago and enjoyed the information I gleaned about opera. Jump in and learn some new stuff about the world of opera.

Master Class!

Excellent for the newbie and seasoned alike. As always, Greenberg is engaging, witty and makes each lecture Uber interesting. I feel I have a better grasp at an artform I've been too ignorant of for too long. I will be listening again to this course and going over the comprehensive pdf several times!!

Educational and entertaining

As usual, Professor Greenberg delights us while teaching us the wonders of opera. Understanding opera greatly enhances appreciation and for this understanding I greatly appreciate Professor Greenberg’s lectures.