Free Opera Lecture: Galuppi to Mozart: Comic Opera in the 18th Century

In the 18th century, comic opera eventually outstripped serious opera in popularity. Important developments in comedy helped make possible the Romantic period to follow, which produced those gems, both comic and tragic, which we treasure today: The Barber of Seville, Norma, Don Pasquale, La traviata, Carmen, La Boheme, to name a few. Come hear its story, together with delicious excerpts from the works of its culminating geniuses, including Mozart. Presented by our Past President, Carol Crocca.

This lecture is the final week of our free Lecture/Listening Series - Opera Unlocked: Stories, Sounds, and Secrets

Each spring, Opera Guild of Rochester invites opera lovers and the opera-curious alike to a free lecture series that is as entertaining as it is enlightening. Part talk, part curated video experience, these sessions provide historical background, musical insight, and dramatic context for operas and composers across the repertoire. Our goal is simple: to make opera more accessible, more understandable, and even more thrilling—especially works that can seem daunting at first encounter.

No RSVP necessary. Lecture will last until 7:45 PM.