Aria's & Antics: Exploring Opera's Comic Side
Commedia dell'arte & Operatic Comedy: Part 2
Follow the evolution of comic performance from the sparkling operas of Rossini and Donizetti, where quick wit, mistaken identities, and dazzling musical timing delight audiences. Discover how the elegance, physical comedy, and rhythmic precision that defined operatic comedy found new expression in the effortless charm and dance artistry of Fred Astaire.
Arias & Antics: Exploring Opera's Comic Side takes audiences on a journey through the art of laughter in music, beginning with the theory of humor and how composers use it to engage, captivate, and tell compelling stories. From the mischief of Commedia dell'arte and the wit of comic opera to the satirical brilliance of Gilbert & Sullivan and the lasting influence of opera on Broadway, discover why comedy has always had a starring role on the operatic stage.