Music lovers who would like a better appreciation of opera can get help in that direction at “What Makes Opera Grand,” a three-day lecture series next week in Arlington Heights.
The university held a lecture series last fall on American music hosted by Earl Schub, dean emeritus of the school’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. A survey of 105 students who took part in the lecture found that most were interested in learning more about opera.
So by popular demand, Schub, who lives in Culver City, Calif., will present the lecture series Wednesday through Friday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. It will be hosted by the Institute for Continued Learning at Roosevelt University’s Schaumburg campus.
Schub’s last lecture series sold out, and university officials expect good attendance for this one. Schub will talk about opera’s history and its enduring appeal.
“My prime audience will know something about the opera, but through my lecture they will get a sense of what the opera is all about and where it’s heading,” Schub said in a telephone interview.
He’ll also talk about who’s who among opera composers and highlight the 2002-2003 season of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Schub, 71, who was director of marketing, public relations and education for Lyric Opera, believes opera is attracting new audiences thanks to projected subtitles during foreign language performances.
“Opera, first and foremost is musical theater and entertainment,” Schub said. “It was never meant to be something impossible to understand.”
Program times will be 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. The series concludes from 10 a.m. to noon June 28.
The cost is $60 for students and members of the Institute for Continued Learning and $75 for non-members.
For information, call 847-619-8283.
