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Opera

Study the eras and elements of opera, stories told in many languages through music and singing that range from early classical Italian opera to stories from American, Eastern, African cultures, and more.

Acting in Period Costume

Costume is a vital element in helping an actor to progress with their part and it has a big impact upon performance.

African-American Opera

African-American opera developed alongside mainstream American opera in the late 19th and 20th century.

Choreography: Basic Steps

Choreography is the arrangement of steps in a song performance. This guide breaks down the most popular beginning steps used in musical theatre.

Choreography: Combinations

Choreography is used in a wide range of artistic disciplines. Now that you've covered the basics, this guide dives deeper into combinations.

Intimacy Onstage

Stage intimacy refers to many things in theatrical practice, but generally covers close, physical work that challenges personal boundaries.

Late Baroque Opera: The Development of Form

Explore the development of baroque opera in the eighteenth century, the influence of George Frederic Handel, and the popular styles favored during this period.

Nineteenth-Century Opera

Explore the biggest growth in the production and creation of new operas, and the expansion away from Italy and France, and into Russia and other territories.

Opera Coach/Répétiteur

The roles of an opera coach and a répétiteur are different, but they overlap considerably. Read more to learn about the differences and skills they each need.

Opera in the Classical Period

Explore the flurry of operatic productions in the final years of the eighteenth century and the influence of Gluck, Mozart, and Joseph Bologne.

Projection and Volume

When using projection and volume, an actor wants to be able to produce sound that is healthy, safe, and sustainable for the run of a show.

Sight Singing

Musical performers need to read and understand music very quickly. This module will introduce the basics of sight singing.

Singing an Aria

Learning an aria presents several different challenges to learning a musical theatre song, and requires a different style and level of preparation.

Singing an Art Song

An art song is a piece of classical music which involves a solo singer and, normally, a pianist. An art song usually stands alone, or is part of a song cycle.

Stage Etiquette

Before rehearsal, the actor must prepare their character, review their lines, and be ready to work. In the room, having a code of conduct is just as important.

The Bel Canto Movement

Discover the work of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini, and analyze the changes in style and composition of popular operas during the Bel Canto Movement.

The Birth of Opera and the Early Baroque

Discover examples of early operas in the baroque era and the influential composers of this period.

Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Opera

One of the biggest catalysts for the development of all forms of art in the Western world was World War One. Explore the development of opera from 1900 onwards.

Understanding Music

Music has its own way of communicating through symbols, and once an actor can read it, they will be able to rehearse and perform more successfully.

Vocal Technique

Singing is more athletic than many people realize. It requires knowing some anatomy, and how singers use this knowledge to create and manipulate sound.