Visual and Performing Arts   

Join Jan, Neil, and two guest lecturers as they “Zoom” through the centuries exploring eight operas and one musical. These works will be performed this spring or summer by three different opera companies: the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD simulcasts at local theatres (Met), Central City Opera (CC), or the Santa Fe Opera (SF). Selections from all of these will be shown in class.

The following works will be performed:

• 1786 - Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro (Met & SF).
• 1816 - Rossini’s Barber of Seville (Met & CC).
• 1851 - Verdi’s Rigoletto (SF).
• 1870 - Wagner’s Die Walküre (SF).
• 1895 - Puccini’s La Bohème (SF).
• 1902 - Strauss’s Salome' (Met).
• 1954 - Britten’s Turn of the Screw (SF).
• 1959 - Rogers' Once Upon a Mattress (CC).
• 2021 - Vrebalov’s The Knock (CC).

Please join us whether you are an experienced operagoer, new to the art form, or somewhere in between. If you plan to attend any of these performances, or simply want to learn more about opera, our classes are an excellent prelude to your experience.

Step into the fascinating world of fashion with this lively 8-week journey through history & how it influenced design. We'll dive into defining moments: religion, economics, military, environmental, groundbreaking movements, and legendary designers which shaped style from the 18th to 20th centuries.

Beyond the essentials, we’ll explore fun fashion trivia & uncover pop culture connections. Whether you’re a style enthusiast or a history buff, this class will inspire and entertain, blending learning with flair and a touch of glam. Come ready to discover the stories behind the stitches!

Based on the assertion that the various genres of music created by African Americans are best visualized as a giant tree with one main trunk and an ever evolving network of branches, this course will explore both the common cultural and psychological functions served by major genres over time as well as the unique functions served by each of those genres, beginning with the Spirituals created by African captives in slavery and continuing through the blues, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, soul, and hip-hop. We will explore how the music has functioned in both the African American and wider American communities. Learning in the course will be facilitated through brief lectures, active discussions, and a richly diverse sampling of oral and video recordings. Enrollees will also be encouraged to take advantage of live music offerings in the Denver metro area and to share their experiences during class discussions.

Join us for an engaging eight-week journey through the magic of cinema! In this class, two passionate film enthusiast facilitators will each share four specially selected films, offering a curated exploration of storytelling, visual artistry, and cultural impact. Each week, we’ll watch a featured film and dive into lively discussions about its themes, characters, cinematography, and relevance.

This class is perfect for movie lovers who enjoy dissecting films, debating their meanings, and uncovering the unique perspectives that each facilitator brings. The films are shown in their entirety with English subtitles.

Course Structure:

• Weeks 1–4: Facilitator 1’s Film Selections – Explore their personal selections and what makes them resonate.
• Weeks 5–8: Facilitator 2’s Film Selections – Discover a different perspective through their top picks.

Each week includes a film screening followed by an in-depth discussion. Participants are encouraged to share their insights, making this a collaborative and enriching experience.

Come prepared to watch, analyze, and critique the selections. The facilitators value all opinions.

Music fans are a lucky lot, especially those who appreciate female songwriters. We’ve been flooded with talent. In this class, Paul Turelli will take you on a tour of that talent, exploring the well-known and rediscovering the often-overlooked as he examines all of their vast influence and artistic genius from biographical, historical, and political viewpoints. The liberating perspective of their music, lyrics and poetry will be emphasized.

Follow us down dark streets to the heart of film noir. In this course, we’ll take a trip around this highly influential genre. How did the post-WWII generation suddenly become interested in stories featuring morally ambiguous characters, plans gone horribly wrong, complex plots, and gloomy aesthetics? Where did the genre come from, why did it produce great movies during its height, and where did it go? How has film noir shaped cinema to this day, in countless ways (stories, style, cinematography, direction, etc.)?

The focus will be on the American classics, such as The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, Out Of The Past, and many others. We'll also discuss international film noir, as well as more contemporary movies (neo-noir). In each session, we’ll explore one of these topics with a sample film noir movie as a centerpiece. Participants are encouraged to watch the movie of the week before each session.

In this course, participants will explore the groundbreaking world of French New Wave cinema, one of the most revolutionary and celebrated movements in film history. From the electrifying debut of Jean-Luc Godard's "Breathless" (1960) to François Truffaut's reflective "The 400 Blows" (1959) and Agnès Varda's radical "Cléo from 5 to 7" (1962), we will explore the visionary artistry that redefined filmmaking in the 1960s and beyond. Through an in-depth examination of the movement's iconic directors, unforgettable actors, and cinematic masterworks students will uncover how these films disrupted tradition, and changed global cinema forever.

“Film Noir” as the French called the American movies that emerged from World War II. The name implies dark film or black movie. It not only refers to the fact that the movies were in black and white but also to the plot, the actors, and film production. Many of the best examples of the genre were cheap “B” movies but some of the classics were high-end with big name stars. This time we meet a murder victim who isn’t dead, a mercy killer, war veterans, an innocent prison convict, a street hardened cop, and a pickpocket. Along with our movie we will have the weekly action-packed serial episode. Again, we will have a short discussion before and after the movie to discuss the stars, the plot, and why the movie was successful.

Due to the length of the ‘Class A’ movies, class will start at 12:30.

Join us for our sixth in a series of most highly rated and enjoyed films of a decade. Having done the films of the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s, this term we will watch and then discuss movies from 2010 to 2019. Our discussions will deal with the making of the movie and its directors, actors, and other key contributors. The value and the fun of the discussions depend on contributions from class members, although we are fine with some who want to watch and listen.

Examples of our eight wide-ranging movies will be Silver Linings Playbook, Argo, Dallas Buyers Club, Spotlight, Ex Machina, and The Big Sick. Some actors we will see are Bradley Cooper Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Alicia Vikander, Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, and Ray Romano. Directors of these 6 movies include David O Russell and five other fine directors you may not be familiar with. We look forward to watching and discussing these terrific movies with you.

With apologies to lovers of brass bands and/or pianos, sometimes all you need are the sounds of classical strings. From solo violin partitas to grand concertos for soloists with orchestra, string instruments have long held center stage. In this six-session Wednesday morning online Zoom course, OLLI’s resident classical music historian Betsy Schwarm shines a spotlight on the subject. It won’t be all violins. Brahms’ viola sonatas, Dvorák’s cello concerto, Handel’s harp concerto, Rodrigo’s Aranjuez… even double-basses and harps will have a place. A Haydn quartet, a Mozart serenade, and Mendelssohn’s Octet will also appear on the schedule as music for string ensembles. Betsy invites you to join her for this exploration of favorite music, new discoveries, and thoughts about how string instruments work. Depending on interest, an optional online concert may be included for us to watch and discuss outside of class time.

Movies are magic. Entertaining, emotionally moving, sometimes with awesome effects, they are able to create and spread unifying visions of our world. But they don’t just “happen”. Join us as we step behind the camera and take a journey through the movie creators’ eyes from studio executives, producers, casting people, actors, writers, cinematographers, editors, composers, technicians and directors. You will understand what it takes to create the story, finance it, put together the team, and produce the movies we all enjoy so much in this most collaborative of all arts. This course is a combination of informative videos and group discussion and is appropriate for all levels of film fans.

Explore Denver’s stunning architecture and elevate your photography skills in “The Photographer's Denver: Iconic Buildings Through the Lens.” This four-session course is designed for photographers of all levels, from smartphone enthusiasts to seasoned DSLR users. The first in-person DU location session covers essential photography fundamentals, including lens choice, lighting observations, and creative perspectives to capture the beauty of architectural designs. The following three sessions take you on-location to Denver’s most iconic architectural landmarks, where you’ll practice your skills and receive personalized guidance to create captivating images. Whether you are capturing intricate details of interiors or bold urban exteriors, this course will help you tell the story of Denver’s unique architectural character.

Students are responsible for their own transportation to each downtown Denver site (to be announced). Join us for an inspiring hands-on experience that combines technical learning with the vibrant art of architectural photography. All course sessions will only be held on the session date without exception.

Members should have a Smartphone with camera capabilities and/or any type of digital camera. Some locations may require an admission fee. Members will be responsible for their own transportation for each session.   

Watercolor Pencils are a unique medium combining drawing with painting in such a manner that no other medium can replicate. They are versatile, fun, and perfect for those who want to create watercolor art with pencils. This course gives you an overview of this medium and will guide you to the right steps for creating quality and stunning art that you will be proud of. Instruction will include drawing techniques and transferring of images, color layering, and color mixing to determine the lights and darks, and mood of the art piece. You will have 8 sessions to create 6 pieces of art and learn techniques that can be used to enliven existing paintings. This class is very much for beginners and those unfamiliar with watercolor.

Supply List will be provided in advance to all participants. But here are basics supplies like Watercolor pencils, Watercolor paper, Brushes #2 #4 #8