Short course
Italian Opera: An Introduction
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
28/09/2026 - 26/10/202614:00 - 16:00
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£190.00
The extraordinary art form that is opera began around 1600 in Italy and within a century had swept through Europe. Although other countries gradually started to develop their own brands of opera, every major European city had an Italian opera company well into the 19th century. Throughout its long history, Italian opera has had a very direct appeal due to its tunefulness and the spectacular virtuosity of its singers.
This course charts the development of Italian opera from its origins as a product of aristocratic patronage to a public entertainment produced by flamboyant impresarios and performed by singers that the public flocked to hear. We will look at selected masterpieces by Monteverdi, Handel, Gluck, Mozart, Rossini and Verdi.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Course starts Monday 28 September 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Mondays, 2.00-4.00pm.
Week 1: Peri, Monteverdi and the birth of opera
Week 2: 17th century developments. Handel’s operas
Week 3: The move to Classicism. Mozart’s Italian operas
Week 4: Rossini and the age of Bel Canto
Week 5: The move to Romanticism. Verdi
Course aims
Course aim:
To chart the development of Italian opera from c.1600 to c.1900
Course objectives:
1. To examine the beginnings of Italian opera
2. To show the development of the music and performance styles
3. To highlight composers and masterpieces which are exemplars of their age
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be expected to:
1. State the events that gave rise to the Italian opera form
2. Name the important developments in Italian opera
3. Name the important composers in Italian operatic history, giving examples of their masterpieces
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.
No prior knowledge is needed for enjoyment of this course.
Teaching methods
The course will be illustrated by audio and video extracts, mostly 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.
Assessment methods
This course is not accredited, so there are no assessments or coursework.
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.
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. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
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 this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £190.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, 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
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Preparatory reading
- Italian Opera / Kimbell, David
Module code: O26P505MSW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.