FRYEBURG — Joe De Vito’s Opera Lecture Series at Fryeburg Academy has begun its 11th season at The Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center.
De Vito’s presentations are geared to music lovers and opera aficionados who are looking for insights while preparing to attend the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts in HD that are presented at the school’s performing arts center on Bradley Street throughout the year. Lectures start at 3 p.m. the Thursday before to Saturday broadcast and last about two hours. The lectures are free and open to the public; no registration is required.
Upcoming lecture dates, the featured opera and its composer:
* Jan. 9 — “Wozzeck” by Alban Berg.
* Jan. 3 — “Porgy and Bess” by George Gershwin.
* Feb. 27 — “Agrippina” George Frideric Handel.
* Mar. 12 — “Der Fliegende Holländer” by Richard Wagner.
* Apr. 9 — “Tosca” by Giacomo Puccini.
* May 7 — “Maria Stuarda” by Gaetano Donizetti.
During each session, De Vito guides attendees through the production and includes an analysis of the plot and musical composition with detailed excerpts of the music presented via video recordings along with some humorous commentary. Ancillary research, via handouts, is available to all attendees free of charge.
De Vito has been an opera fan for his entire life, having most likely experienced his first opera while in utero. He brings decades of knowledge to each two-hour lecture. An avocational bass/baritone in his past life, De Vito, who resides in Bridgton with his wife Karen, retired from the English department at Fryeburg Academy where he taught for 10 years.
For more information, call 207-935-9232 or e-mail boxoffice@fryeburgacademy.org.
