Opera 101: A Journey into the World of Opera

Presented by Permian Basin Opera in partnership with Midland College’s Continuing Education

Explore the magic behind the music with our Opera 101 class, an engaging personal enrichment course designed to deepen your appreciation of opera through education and live Met Opera experiences. We will view excellent productions of operas from some of the world's great opera houses. The purpose of this course is to enhance the student's opera experience through education about the composer, history at the time of the composition, the opera libretto (story), drama, and music - vocal and instrumental. Opera is a story told through the unique union of signing, action and music - which together evoke varying emotions.

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What You’ll Experience

“Opera is a story told through the unique union of singing, action, and music, which together evoke varying emotions.” In this course, instructor James (Jim) Camp guides you through:

• Background on composers and the historical context of each opera

• Analysis of the librettos (stories), dramatic structure, and key musical moments

• Insights into both vocal and instrumental elements that bring these stories to life.

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Featured Operas & Live Viewing

Delve into a handful of captivating operas featured in the Met Opera’s Live in HD series collection.​

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Course Details

• When: Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

• Location (2025): F. Marie Hall Academic Building, Room 203, Midland College

• Instructor: Jim Camp

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Why Take This Class?

This course offers more than just opera clips—it’s an enriching dive into:

• Historical and cultural insights that shape each opera

• Dramatic storytelling through music and performance

• A deeper, more emotionally resonant viewing experience of Met Opera’s Live in HD offerings

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How to Register

Register through Midland College’s Continuing Education portal under “Personal Enrichment.”