I Hear America Singing: American Opera Takes the Stage

When we think of opera, the European greats come to mind: Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner.

While American composers followed European models at first, by the early 20th century, many began forging a new idiom, adapting inherited forms to American subjects.

This course traces the emergence of a distinctly American operatic voice balancing the demands of popular appeal with artistic innovation, giving American history and cultural identity new modes of expression.

Through engaging lectures and video illustrations, we’ll explore early figures such as Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, and Virgil Thomson, then turn to midcentury operas by Gian Carlo Menotti, Leonard Bernstein, and Aaron Copland.

We’ll give special attention to frequently performed living composers, including Philip Glass and the Bay Area’s own John Adams and Jake Heggie.

Finally, we’ll turn to contemporary voices such as Jennifer Higdon, Missy Mazzoli, Anthony Davis, and Terence Blanchard to highlight a tradition that continues to evolve through acclaimed new American works.

No previous opera background is required.