Opera Aficionado is an exciting, new suite of programs designed for patrons who are passionate about opera. Aficionado provides an opportunity to learn more, dive deeper, and get an inside look at the world of opera.
As part of Opera Aficionado, our Interactive Lectures Series gives opera-goers around the world a front-row seat to scholarly talks, allowing attendees to dialogue with fellow opera lovers, experts, and special guests. Each month will be focused on a concept or theme relevant to all of us.
Speaker: Pre-Opera Speaker Robert Hartwell
Puccini’s operas beautifully exemplify this month’s theme of passion, and perhaps none more than his exquisite La bohème. In spite of its popularity—or perhaps because of it—it is often underrated, and is emblematic of a curious contradiction about Puccini: he is adored by the public yet often disdained within intellectual circles. We will explore the reasons for this disconnect while making the case that his operas are much more sophisticated than his critics would acknowledge.