Pre-Opera Seminars
These two-hour events are held on Saturday mornings a week or so before the opening of each Opera Southwest production. The singers, musical and artistic staff, and other opera professionals offer their perspectives on the opera, providing an in-depth view for a deeper understanding and enjoyment of the performance.
Our next seminar will be TBA.
Past
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Chatter – 912 3rd Street NW
Pre-Opera Seminar to Celebrate Madama Butterfly
Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly continues to enrapture audiences no matter how many times you have experienced it! This production, sung in Italian, will be very special with Cecilia Violetta López in the lead role with Maestro Barrese conducting and Susan Stone Li as Director. Please join us to meet some of the cast and production members to uncover little-known facts about this world-famous opera.
Saturday, August 31, 2024
Chatter – 912 3rd Street NW
Pre-Opera Seminar for Apprentice Production of Matilde
Please join us to learn about the American premiere of Matilde. Matilde is a one-act bel canto mock-heroic opera composed by Carlo Coccia in the early 1800’s. If you are intrigued, join Maestro Barrese, Director Martha Collins, and Cecilia Violetta López for this illuminating and lively discussion.
As always, we will have coffee, water, and some special treats for your enjoyment. Register early so you do not miss out.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
10:00 am at National Hispanic Cultural Center – Wells Fargo Auditorium
Pre-Opera Seminar – Carmen: En Espanol – Music: Georges Bizet
Please join us to discuss and analyze one of the most famous operas of all time! This 4 act opera includes love, passion, and tragedy so no surprise it is famous. Enjoy a presentation and commentary from Tony Zancanella and artistic staff members.
Saturday, February 10, 2024
10:00 am at National Hispanic Cultural Center – Wells Fargo Auditorium
We hope you can join us for an in-depth discussion of Before Night Falls by Jorge Martín-Buján, with singer Brian James Myer (Rey) and director John de los Santos offering insights about this New Mexico Premiere production.
Based on the autobiography of Reinaldo Arenas, who experienced a childhood of poverty, a stint with guerillas, international acclaim as a writer, and imprisonment as a political dissident. His memoir of the Cuban dissident movement was dictated after his escape to the US in 1980 Mariel boatlift and published posthumously.
The opera will be produced with the empowering voices of the New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus. What an exciting way to start 2024 with an inspiring portrayal of the human spirit and art’s power as a revolution tool!
Saturday, October 7th, 2023
10:00 am at 912 3rd St NW (Chatter)
Enter Bluebeard’s Castle if you dare! This chilling one-act Symbolist opera by Béla Bartók with only 2 singers is based on a French folk legend. A perfect opera for
the Halloween season! Come and learn about the opera with Maestro Barrese and Director, Xinxin Tang. First performed in May 1918, the opera was reworked
several times. While the composer was an intensely private man, many believe Bluebeard was Bartok himself portraying his personal suffering and inner secrets.
As we will learn, the music reflects the importance of the minor second, referred to as the “blood” motif. We have much to explore in this seminar.
Saturday, August 26, 2023
10:00 am at 912 3rd St NW (Chatter)
Please join us to explore Gioachino Rossini’s one-act opera which was the one most performed during his lifetime. The burletta per musica in one act highlights a case of identity theft with Berenice trying to sort out who is the “real” Count Alberto. This production highlights our wonderful apprentices and will be performed in early September at the ABQ Museum outdoor pavilion.
Saturday, March 4, 2023
10:00 am -12:00 at Chatter ABQ. Members of the production team and cast will discuss Turandot and its history and context.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
10:30am-12:30 at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. Soprano Cecilia Violetta Lopez, Assistant Director Haley Stamatz, Tenor Raul Melo, and others discuss Catan’s IL POSTINO.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
10:30am-12:30 at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. Maestro Anthony Barrese, Director Foad Faridzadeh, Baritone Ashraf Sewailam, and others discuss Bottesini’s ALI BABA.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
10:30am-12:30 at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. Maestro Anthony Barrese and stage director Loren Meeker were joined by special guest Marc Weiner from the University of Indiana for a discussion of Lohengrin, Wagner’s anti-semitism, and what that means for modern interpretations of his work. Full text of Professor Weiner’s remarks here.
Saturday, February 2, 2019
10am-Noon at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. Maria de Buenos Aires Seminar Stage director Octavio Cardenas, scenic designer Valeria Rios and singers Denise Wernly Alsina and Efrain Solis will participate in a panel discussion of Maria de Buenos Aires.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
10am-Noon at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. Tosca Seminar Maestro Barrese, director Marco Nisticò, and the stars of the show give a behind the scenes and in depth look at why Tosca is one of the most popular operas in the repertoire.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
10am-Noon at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
Norma Seminar with Keturah Stickann, Lindsay Ohse, Olivia Vote and Richard Hogle
Saturday, February 10, 2018
10am – Noon at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
Bless Me, Ultima Seminar with Maestro Figueroa, Octavio Cardenas, Hector Armienta, and Daisy Beltran
Saturday, October 7, 2017
10am-Noon at Las Puertas Event Center, 1512 1st St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Opera Southwest Artistic Director Anthony Barrese gave an overview of William Tell, with performances by Opera Southwest’s 2017-18 class of Apprentice Artists.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
10am – Noon at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
Pagliacci Seminar. With Maestro Zoe Zeniodi.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
“The most famous opera in the world: Tancredi?” With Maestro Anthony Barrese. Some musical excerpts performed by OSW apprentice artists.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
“Untangling Turco”. With David Bartholomew, Dahl Delu and Angela Mortellaro. Some musical excerpts performed by OSW apprentice artists.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
“Director’s Discussion” of Aida, led by Artistic Director Anthony Barrese
Saturday, March 14, 2015
“Director’s Discussion” of La Boheme, led by Director of Artistic Operations David Bartholomew.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
History of Amleto Pre-Opera Seminar, led by Opera Southwest Artistic Director Anthony Barrese.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Opera Southwest Artistic Director Anthony Barrese moderated a panel discussion including Roger Melone (Conductor), Sean Anderson (Zurga), and Nathaniel Merchant (stage director), about the development of the music and staging for the upcoming production of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Opera Southwest Artistic Director Anthony Barrese discussed Mozart’s perennial favorite “Don Giovanni.” In this lecture Maestro Barrese gave us an inside look at the construction of “Don Giovanni,” what it means that we did “the Prague Version” and how Opera Southwest’s production was a unique take on an opera that has enjoyed success for more than two hundred years.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Opera Southwest Artistic Director Anthony Barrese and Director of Artistic Operations David Bartholomew discussed the development of the music and staging for the upcoming production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Opera Southwest Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Anthony Barrese discussed Rossini’s Otello, explaining what Shakespeare’s play meant for the composer and for Italian opera when it was composed. The maestro explained how he reconstructed the “lieto finale” (joyful ending), including what information was available and how he completed certain passages. Several cast members provided musical illustrations for the conductor’s presentation.
