Rigoletto: A San Francisco Opera Primer with Carol Christ and Naniette Coleman
Please note: This event took place on Aug. 26. Registering now will give you immediate access to the video recording of the 2-hour discussion. It will be included in your confirmation email.
The San Francisco Opera’s fall season brings four powerful works to the stage — Rigoletto, Dead Man Walking, Parsifal, and The Monkey King — each grappling with timeless questions of good and evil, innocence and retribution, punishment and salvation.
Join Carol Christ and Naniette Coleman for OLLI @Berkeley's San Francisco Opera Primer, standalone events that delve into the heart of each of these operas — the stories they tell, the truths they wrestle with, and the unforgettable characters whose choices shape their destinies.
Guest speakers include Clifford "Kip" Cranna, Dramaturg Emeritus (Scholar in Residence) of San Francisco Opera, and Lauren Vasilyeva, Associate Professor of Musicology and associated faculty in Italian Studies at Johns Hopkins.
About the Faculty
Carol Christ began her term as the 11th chancellor of UC Berkeley in 2017 and retired as Chancellor Emerita in 2024. Prior to that, she served as president of Smith College. She is a celebrated scholar of 19th-century British literature, a champion of women’s issues and diversity on college campuses, and a lifelong opera lover.
Naniette H. Coleman is a PhD candidate in Berkeley's Sociology Department and studies culture and organizations. She is also a member of the San Francisco Opera's Board of Trustees and the founder and Executive Director of UC Berkeley's national award-winning Night Out/Night Off for Graduate Students arts initiative.
About Rigoletto by Guiseppe Verdi
Gossip is Rigoletto’s trade, and there is plenty of scandal to go around. But when a nobleman lays a curse on Rigoletto for his cruel humor, the jester has no idea how far he is about to fall.
Tickets
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- $60 for general public
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