(Credits: San Francisco Opera)

The San Francisco Opera Diversity, Equity and Community Department announced new “Opera Aficionado” online discussions in November 2021 on the topic of composers who have not composed opera.

San Francisco Opera playwright emeritus Kip Cranna will talk about German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, analyzing possible reasons why the famous German did not compose opera. Cranna will also explore video examples of Bach’s cantatas and oratorios to illustrate his gift for combining music and drama.

Discussion date: November 7, 2021

Musicologist Laura Prichard will talk about American composer Florence Price. Price’s musical manuscripts were discovered in an abandoned house in St. Anne, Illinois in 2009. She wrote music based on the poetry of Chicago’s leading Black Renaissance poets such as WEB Du Bois and Langston Hughes.

Discussion date: November 14, 2021

Finally, Cole Thomason-Redus will speak in detail about a number of German composers who have never composed opera, including Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler and Clara Schumann. The three composers mainly focused on the songs.

Discussion date: November 21, 2021

Tickets for the online discussions are available until noon on the day of each event at sfopera.com/aficionado.