Students from Adjunct Professor Trebici Marin’s courses: Classical Music in Film, and Opera: When Music Meets Literature, travelled to Milan on Saturday evening, April 2, to take in a dress rehearsal of the Opera Li zite ‘ngalera (The Newlyweds on the Galley) at Teatro alla Scala. Students got a central seat to witness the Leonardo Vinci-composed baroque musical comedy written and performed in the Neapolitan dialect. The stunningly intricate period costumes and set designs of sixteenth-century southern Italy and vocal talents of the singers reinforced the comedic situation for students as they read English translations of the libretto on small screens.
The night was memorable for all, and an essential component to the study of the opera genre as students continue their exploration of music and literature in the courses. Some students said that they had never seen an opera in a venue like La Scala before, but that it was a night that they would never forget. A sophisticated night out, surrounded by theatrical ambiance was a perfect springtime ritual that students will remember for years to come. This kind of immersive learning is a highlight of the Franklin University Switzerland experience.