Students -- we want to know what you think.

I have been to a couple of operas, but this was my first operetta.

This was not what I expected, the style of the costumes were much more festive than I expected.


I think opera music is grander, and operas are bigger, operettas have talking and seem to be funny.

I do think this opera had a dark side: People married for money, and could only marry inside their social class because a lot revolved around money.



Maybe The Merry Widow is a timeless classic, but I think it depends on the person. We are not struggling as much with those problems anymore (marrying for money, higher class lower class, etc,). It helps to get a feel for how social life used to be at that time. For example, we saw how people dressed and how they partied.

Can't quite figure this blogging out, but want to lodge a protest about 'Porgy and Bess'. One of my black, successful, highly educated opera partners brought up the fact that the portrayal of blacks is very bad. She suggested that it emphasizes a very negative stereotype that wasn't true even when the opera was written, and I agree. I've seen the opera before when it played in Philadelphia, and didn't like it. 'Summertime' is the only memorable, pleasant song. Though I have subscribed for 2011-2012, I won't attend this one. Perhaps you could consider taking it out of your repertoire in the future. I do enjoy ALL your other offerings, though.
Sincerely, BW

Dear Camille,

Thank you so much for posting your thoughts. Please encourage others to do so. Laura Pedersen our Hanna, really appreciated the students at the Dress Rehearsal -- "they add so much energy and provide a valuable service to us since they are our first audience."

Hope to see you at many, many more productions!

Dear Ms. Wright,

Thank you for posting your thoughts and concerns. OperaDelaware is sensitive to these issues and will be presenting a thoughtful production of ‘Porgy and Bess'. This is the reason why we are planning to have a series of lectures around the many issues that arise in order to place them in context of the opera then and the opera now. Sadly, these issues of poverty, drugs and negative stereotypes of various cultures are still with us today. But so are the uplifting issues of facing adversity and overcoming hardships.

Thank you so much for helping us start this very important conversation with our community.

Carin