Parole in Aria:

Italian Through Opera

When: Wednesdays 10:15–11:45

Where: LetsXcape Caffè, Newark-on-Trent

5th November– 10th December 2025 (8 weeks)

Level: A1–A2 Friendly | No singing required

Join us for a unique journey into Italian through the music and emotion of Puccini. Each week, we study a full opera aria, using it to build vocabulary, grammar, listening skills and cultural understanding. This is a welcoming course for beginners and improvers alike – expressive, engaging, and full of beauty

All students receive full lyrics, weekly handouts, and light grammar guidance to support each lesson. No previous knowledge of opera required

Weekly Programme: (current)

Week 6-Wed 10 Dec 2025 Di Provenza il mar: La Traviata Family terms, repetition, gentle narrative style

La Traviata

1. 7 January “Parigi, o cara” – Act III (Violetta & Alfredo duet)

2. 14 January “Un dì, felice, eterea” – Act I (Alfredo & Violetta duet)

WED 14TH LA TRAVIATA NEWARK ODEON

Le Nozze di Figaro – Aria Study Plan

3. 21 January – “Se vuol ballare, signor contino” (Figaro)
→ Clear structure, strong rhythm, everyday verbs (ballare, voler, servire).
Theme: class and cleverness – introducing Figaro’s wit and use of irony.

4. 28 January – “Venite, inginocchiatevi” (Susanna)
→ Imperative forms (venite, mettete, guardate), polite instruction.
Theme: humour and affection – playful tone, useful daily commands.

5. 4 February – “Voi che sapete” (Cherubino)
→ Short, emotional, accessible vocabulary (amore, cuore, sospirar).
Theme: adolescent love and feelings – great for expressive adjectives.

6. 11 February – “Porgi, amor” (Countess)
→ Slow, clear diction; elegant formal Italian.
Theme: longing and emotion – introduces literary tone and higher register.

7. 25 February – “Dove sono i bei momenti” (Countess)
→ Past tenses (sono stati, erano), reflective tone.
Theme: memory, regret, and time – deeper narrative Italian.

8. 4 March – “Deh vieni, non tardar” (Susanna)
→ Romantic language, poetic future and subjunctive forms (vieni, tardar, goder).
Theme: reconciliation, irony, and anticipation – beautiful close to the cycle.

WED 4TH MARRIAGE OF FIGARO NOTTM

9. 11 March La donna è mobile – Verdi (Rigoletto)

10 18 March Una furtiva lagrima – Donizetti (L’elisir d’amore)
One of the world’s most loved tenor arias. Slow, expressive, and full of repetition. Perfect for teaching emotion vocabulary.

11 25 March Bella siccome un angelo – Donizetti (Don Pasquale)
Very tuneful, gentle pace, and full of adjectives

9.

10

PAYG: £20 per session

Full Course

(11 weeks)

£150

Half course

(5 weeks)

£100