Opera Lab: The Aria Project

The Opera Lab offers a dynamic blend of opera history and hands-on creative exploration. In this seminar-style course, students will study iconic works from opera’s rich tradition, uncovering how music, drama, and visual design merge to create immersive storytelling. Weekly topics include the evolution of opera, major styles, the role of libretti, and the innovations of contemporary and experimental staging. Students will engage critically with opera's past while reimagining its future, developing their own scenic, costume, and lighting concepts. The course culminates in a collaborative production of a short, one-act opera, where students bring their designs and performances to life in a unique opportunity to experience the transformative power of opera firsthand.