Armchair Opera provides premium online learning content created by Dr. Naomi Barrettara, for opera fans, newcomers, and the opera curious, all from the comfort of your own home! This platform also provides an opportunity for company partnerships, allowing audiences to support their local companies and artists through engaging virtual programming with an industry expert.
This fall, we are launching our first virtual lecture series with Dr. Naomi Barrettara!
From terminology and opera jargon, to famous composers, to the most popular operas performed today, to different kinds of jobs behind the scenes, this course is a broad introduction to the operatic art form, designed to be accessible to opera new comers and enriching for opera lovers alike! If you are curious about opera and want to learn more, this is a great place to start.
We have several new courses in the works!
The term "bel canto" literally translates to "beautiful singing". And in opera, it is often used to refer to both an era of opera history, and a style of singing. So what is the difference between the two? Why was the bel canto era so influential? What are the hallmarks of the "bel canto style," and what are some of the iconic roles that have catapulted many a singer to operatic fame? This course delves into the history, the music, the style, and the singing of the bel canto era, exploring the long reaching influence of opera in early 19th-century Italy.
The chorus plays an integral musical and dramatic role in operas from across history. So what is the history behind the use of the chorus in operatic contexts? How has use of the chorus changed over time? And what is it like to be a professional chorister on the opera stage today? This course delves into all of these questions and more, examining the evolution of the opera chorus across history, and exploring how different opera choruses function in the modern opera industry.
This course is armchair travel for the opera enthusiast! Learn more about the connection between music and history in various destination across Europe, and gain new insights into how opera evolved in different geographical and cultural areas where operas were first conceived, composed, and performed. Experience the world of opera and cultural destinations from the comfort of your own home like never before!
At Armchair Opera, the goal is to create a sustainable way for opera companies, organizations, and audiences of any size to access engaging, world class virtual learning and lecture opportunities.
Courses and lectures are created by Dr. Naomi Barrettara, a musicologist, professor, podcast host, and public speaker with over a decade of experience in lecturing and content development, paired with a passion for developing public facing learning opportunities for public audiences of all knowledge levels.
Interested in offering an Armchair Opera course to your patrons and audience? Armchair Opera provides a unique profit share model for opera companies and industry partners, allowing companies to provide high quality, low risk learning opportunities to their constituents, and audiences can be sure their course registration supports both the company they love, and the course creators.
Active Armchair Opera courses are open to anyone! No company affiliation is necessary. Whether you are an individual looking to learn more about opera, or found your way to Armchair Opera through a group or company partnership, all are welcome.
