Aria's & Antics: Exploring Opera's Comic Side
Commedia dell'arte & Operatic Comedy: Part 1
Explore how the colorful characters, physical comedy, and improvisational traditions of Commedia dell'arte shaped centuries of comic opera, from the witty ensembles of Mozart to the fast-paced farce of later works. Trace the enduring legacy of these timeless comedic traditions as they evolved from the operatic stage to the zany humor of the Marx Brothers.
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.