Five Operas by Four Popular French Composers

Ever since opera first came to France from Italy, the French have had their own wonderful way of blending poetry with music and combining visual spectacle and dance. We’ll encounter a lot of hot passion, sometimes balanced with sorrow and unhappy endings.

Jules Massenet – Manon

Manon is one of the truly unforgettable, irresistible, and archetypal female characters in opera. While the story is firmly set in class and gender issues of the past, the character of Manon herself is timeless, convincing, and familiar. DVD cast: Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazón.

About the Instructor: Erika Reitshamer was born and educated in Germany and is a passionate and life-long fan of opera. She is a noted lecturer in the greater Boston area and teaches at Regis College for their Lifelong Learning Programs as well as at various libraries, town halls and retirement communities. Erika was active in the formation of the Boston Lyric Opera Company more than 45 years ago. She led opera tours to Europe and served as vice president of the Boston Wagner Society for many years. She is a member of the Sudbury Opera Lovers Organization.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Library.