Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 6. Taught in Italian. Introduction to traditional Italian opera as means of appreciating culture of Italy, art form of opera, and study of Italian language at advanced level through reading of libretti. Six masterworks of Italian opera tradition--Il Barbiere di Siviglia, La Bohème, Pagliacci, Otello, Tosca, and La Traviata--offer culturally authentic contexts to learn about operas, their characters, plots, settings, and themes. Exploration of various historical, political, and cultural issues raised in each opera. P/NP or letter grading.