Opera in the Italian Language Classroom

Abstract

Cultural literacy is an important part of education and particularly so in the teaching of foreign language. In the domain of Italian language and culture, the teacher must be prepared to present grammar as well as some history, literature, and art. But I would like to make a special case for opera and show how opera may be incorporated into the classroom setting to enrich and complement the teaching of Italian.* The important place opera holds in Italy's culture should not be underestimated. It is opera's unique mingling of art, literature, and music that has taken the Italian language to every corner of the globe by such performers as Caruso, Gigli, and Pavarotti. Until the early 50s, Italian operatic troupes had journeyed to South America and introduced such newcomers as Tebaldi, Callas, Simionato, del Monaco, di Stefano, and Gobbi. And since the 60s, the export of opera from Italy has become more widespread and spectacular. We read about the Verona production of Aida that played in Egypt, Genoa's La boheme (starring Pavarotti) in Beijing; the entire La Scala ensemble came to Washington and New York for the American Bicentennial celebrations in 1976, and La Scala was in West Berlin in 1987 for the 750th anniversary of the founding of the city. And even today, La Scala makes extended annual tours to Japan and Korea. Opera therefore, is very much a part of Italian cultural life, but the student is also aware of and curious about the opera he hears or has heard about in the United States. Opera is also accessible in the United States in the larger cities and on many college campuses; it is broadcast both live and from recorded performances. And since the last decade, opera has been regularly appearing on television. Increasingly, opera's superstars advertise and appear on talk shows. Even Miss Manners has put in a word for opera in a column entitled Dressing for a Night at the Opera. As suggested by the title of her