OLLI@DU / 2023 FALL / COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

A Day at the Opera

VIPA 1025

Wednesday

Dates: 10/11 to 11/1 (4 weeks)

Time: 1–3 PM

Facilitator: Neil Adelman

Location: Online

Class Limit: Unlimited

Sponsoring Site: Central

Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Verdi’s Nabucco and Bizet’s Carmen are among the operas available to Denver area residents this fall and winter from Opera Colorado and the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD cinema series. Neil Adelman will be speaking about these three operatic masterpieces and a fourth opera, Puccini’s wonderful saga of the American frontier, The Girl of the Golden West. Each of Neil’s talks will include the story of the opera and information about its origin, performance history, the composer, and the librettist together with a visual presentation of musical excerpts. Please join us whether you are an experienced operagoer, new to the art form, or somewhere in between. And, if you are going to any of these local performances, Neil’s talk will be an excellent prelude to your experience.

A History of Choral Music from Gregorian Chant to the Modern Day

VIPA 1003

Monday

Dates: 9/18 to 10/23 (6 weeks)

Time: 1–3 PM

Facilitator: Timothy Krueger

Location: 1st Universalist

Class Limit: 80 Participants

Sponsoring Site: Central

Many cultures have developed forms of corporate singing, but what we identify today as choral music, with distinct vocal parts based on range, singing in harmony, accompanied by instruments or not, was a product of Medieval European Christianity, inspired by injunctions to “Sing to the Lord” throughout Jewish and Christian scriptures. The invention of the first comprehensive musical notation system will be traced, which developed into the modern notation system, and which was created to notate choral music specifically. From monophonic chants to the development of polyphonic works for multiple parts will take us through the Renaissance, including secular works. The appearance of oratorio in the Baroque and the accompaniment of choirs with orchestra and organ takes us into the early Romantic era (including an examination of the choral works of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven). Mendelssohn’s key role in the flowering of German choral music will be touched on, and excursions into the Jewish sacred music of the Romantic era, and the music of the Russian Orthodox Church will take us into the 20th century. Finally, the 20th century dominance in choral music of, first, England, and then the Baltic States will conclude our survey.

At Home with Art….or Home is Where the Art is….

VIPA 1024

Wednesday

Dates: 10/4 to 10/25 (4 weeks)

Time: 1–3 PM

Facilitator: Sarah Nichols

Location: Online

Class Limit: Unlimited

Sponsoring Site: Regis

What is home? Is it a place or a feeling? In Western art history, the concept of home changed radically from the Renaissance to Present. With the growth of the concept of the individual, the concept of home also developed from a literal place to rest one’s head to a reflection of class, virtue, and self. During this term, we will explore the evolving concept of home through key pieces of Western art, examining the interiors they represent, the design movements they belong to, and the social context of these environments.

Classical Music and You: What to Know and How to Listen like a Pro VIPA 1004

Monday

Dates: 9/18 to 11/6 (8 weeks)

Time: 1–3 PM

Facilitator: Catherine Beeson

Location: Online

Class Limit: Unlimited

Sponsoring Site: Central

Explore and learn about the history and development of classical music, from small ensemble to the symphony orchestra, with a Colorado Symphony musician-educator. Discover, explore, and compare musicmaking techniques of master composers from every major era (Haydn, Mozart, Brahms, Copland, and more). We will listen to, discuss, and make observations about different instruments and compositions. This class will enhance the understanding and appreciation of classical music. OLLI students will learn the basic history of classical music, listen to and compare/ contrast examples of music from all major historical periods, and learn about composers from each of those periods. Whether you’re a novice or a classical music afficionado, get ready to expand your knowledge and experience all.

Comedy Appreciation

VIPA 1011

Tuesday

Dates: 9/19 to 11/7 (no class 10/17) (7 weeks)

Time: 9:30–12 noon

Facilitator: Jim Sieke, Senior Facilitator

Location: Jefferson Unitarian Church

Class Limit: 65 Participants

Sponsoring Site: West

Comedy Appreciation will be a 7-week course covering Stand-up Comedy, Late Night Comedy, Sketch Comedy, and Sitcoms as well as a great deal of a small amount of related material. The format is a series of short to medium length video clips with a short introduction to hopefully enhance the enjoyment of the clip and then a short classroom discussion after each clip.