Five Operatic Masterpieces



Overview

This course will examine five iconic operatic masterpieces still in the operatic repertory today. Starting with Handel's 'Giulio Cesare' (London, 1724), we will then journey to Vienna for Mozart's 'Die Zauberflöte' (1791). We then go to Italy for Rossini's 'Il Barbiere di Siviglia' (Rome, 1817), before before journeying to Munich for Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde' (1865). We round off the course with a trip to Cairo for the première of Verdi's 'Aïda' (1870).

Programme details

Course starts: 23 Feb 2026

Week 1: Giulio Cesare - Handel

Week 2: Die Zauberflöte - Mozart

Week 3: Il Barbiere di Siviglia - Rossini

Week 4: Tristan und Isolde - Wagner

Week 5: Aïda - Verdi

Certification

Digital badge

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.

Fees

Description Costs
Course fee £180.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Miss Claire-Louise Lucas

Claire-Louise Lucas is a professional mezzo-soprano and a part-time music tutor. She lectures on opera and song for Oxford University Department for Continuing Education.  She has lectured on singing in conservatoires and other universities in the UK and the USA.

Claire-Louise has performed extensively throughout Britain, Europe and the USA, including an appearance as a soloist in the Salzburg Easter Festival with Maurizio Pollini and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Claudio Abbado.  Other recent performances include concerts at Gloucester Cathedral; Christ Church Cathedral; Salisbury Cathedral; Southampton University; the Leominster Festival and the Brighton Festival. 

Course aims

  • To examine some important turning points in operatic musical and social history.
  • To examine the course of operatic musical and social history through different countries and eras.
  • To show how certain operas have influenced the prevailing musical and social conventions of their times.
  • To examine the legacy of each of these milestones on the journey through operatic history.

Teaching methods

Each topic will be illustrated by audio and video extracts, co-ordinated by computer. All visual illustrations, including scores, opera texts, video and DVD extracts will be projected on to a large screen. Audio recordings will be played through high quality hi-fi. There will also be live demonstrations by the tutor.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • be acquainted with the main characters and plots of the operas studied;
  • have an understanding of the historical context of the operas studied;
  • identify the other works by the featured composers;
  • state why these important operas are still in the repertory today.

Assessment methods

This course is non-accredited, so there are no assessments.

Application

Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education

Level and demands

No prior knowledge of opera is needed to enjoy this course.

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support