B18. Operas of Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky is world famous and widely loved as a composer of symphonies, concertos, ballets, and other orchestral works, but few Americans know his vocal music, including dozens of songs and 12 (!) operas. Two of these (Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades), both based on Pushkin, are part of the standard operatic repertory worldwide. The others are far less well known, though they are starting to be performed increasingly outside of Russia. The course will concentrate on the two masterpieces, but will also provide an introduction to the best-known of Tchaikovsky’s other operas.

GROUP LEADER:  Stephen Ledbetter holds a PhD in Musicology from NY University and taught at Dartmouth College. He was musicologist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1979-1998.