Opera authority to lecture in Coeur d'Alene

Opera Coeur d'Alene has invited Fred Glienna to speak about its upcoming opera, "The Girl of the Golden West" by Giacomo Puccini, which will be performed in Italian Sept. 12 and 14 on the stage in North Idaho College's Schuler Hall.

This work is Puccini's only opera with a decidedly American theme, being set in a mining camp during the California Gold Rush. Its debut was in 1910 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Glienna will discuss Puccini's life, career and influences. The workshop will focus on how and why Puccini came to write a "Western" opera, looking at other libretto choices he passed on prior to deciding on this opera, also known by its Italian name, "La Fanciulla del West."

Many CD and DVD excerpts from various productions of this work and others, will be heard and watched, and discussed in detail.

Glienna has been studying, listening to, writing about and lecturing on opera for more than 50 years.

The class will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6 at the NIC campus library, Todd Lecture Hall. The cost is $25. For more information and ticket reservations: www.OPERACDA.COM or 1-800-418-1485 ext. 1.