Opera For Laughs: Great Comedic Moments

Are you a seasoned opera aficionado, new to or just plain curious about opera? In any case, didn’t expect a lighthearted lecture on opera? Kip Cranna, San Francisco Dramaturg Emeritus, will provide expert commentary on subtitled video examples highlighting humor as one of the great human emotions, which is especially welcome in these trying times. We’ll delve into the opera composer’s role in creating music that gives comedy its spark with examples of operatic humor from the 17th century to the present day. Come prepared to interact, ask questions, and laugh!

Clifford (Kip) Cranna is the Dramaturg Emeritus (Scholar in Residence), with the San Francisco Opera. He is an Opera Appreciation Lecturer, at the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) at University of California Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and Dominican University, and at Stanford Continuing Studies.