We still have openings in these upcoming classes. Please join us at the Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center for these Spring catalog classes.

You can view our catalog and register online at www.liveandlearnbethesda.org call us at 301-740-6150, or email us at info@liveandlearnbethesda.org
 

During the years 1847 to 1853, As Italy takes steps to establish a national ruling monarchy, Verdi becomes the undisputed "King of Italian Opera!" Italian romanticism is now in full bloom and Verdi develops a new type of operatic drama that is at once popular, but which also is in consonance with traditional Italian operatic values. These years witness perhaps Verdi's most astonishing artistic developments as the abstract concepts of the "Byronic Hero" are wedded to the real life drama of Dumas fils' Camille. The operas I Masnadieri (1847) and La traviata (1853) frame this development, which also include the other genius works of Verdi's middle period: Luisa Miller, Rigoletto, and Il trovatore. The often neglected masterpieces, La battaglia di Legnano and Stiffelio also prove to be stunning examples of Verdi's new sense of theatre. It is during this period that Verdi becomes a major, international composer. 

  

Dr. Harry N. Dunstan, Founding Artistic Director, American Center for Puccini Studies

Monday          10:30 AM to 12:00 PM      May 18    

Session 2        $20                                    Class 639

 

There has been a renewed interest in Tennessee Williams, one of America's greatest playwrights, occasioned by John Lahr's recently published and highly acclaimed biography. We will examine the themes and characters of A Streetcar Named Desire which is generally acknowledged to be among his best plays. We will look at the playwright's own life story and the conflicts which dominate his life and his writing.

 

Jackson Bryer, PhD, Professor Emeritus of English

Thursday        1:30 PM to 3:00 PM          May 28

1 Session       $15                                     Class 624

 

 

There is no greater tragic heroine in the history of jazz than Billie Holiday.  Her story is legend, from her impoverished childhood on the streets of Baltimore to her constant struggles with addiction to her eventual early demise.  This class will listen to and watch her sing, putting her music in context with her sad and troubled personal story.

 

Seth Kibel, Musician, Composer

Monday          10:30 AM to 12:00 PM      June 1

1 Session       $15                                     Class 640

 

 

Information is powerful to maintaining an independent lifestyle.  When you no longer drive, it is important to know what transportation options are available to you and which options meet your specific needs.  Whether you can travel independently or need assistance, attend this session to learn more about your community's transportation options for seniors.  JCA Connect-A-Ride staff will provide an overview of many transportation options available to seniors and people of all ages who have disabilities residing in Montgomery County.  Learn about public and private transportation programs, volunteer organizations, subsidized programs, and more.  The presenter will bring applications for the Call N Ride and Metro Access programs for anyone who is interested in and eligible for these programs.

 

JCA Certified Mobility Specialist

Tuesday        10:30 AM to 12:00 PM      Jun 2 

1 Session       Free                                  Class 652 

Ellen Cassedy is the award-winning author of We Are Here: Memories of the Lithuanian Holocaust. Join her lecture and learn how Jews and non-Jews in Lithuania today are seeking to remember and honor a nearly vanished culture.  In this multi-media presentation, Ellen Cassedy shares her own Jewish roots journey and introduces us to the leaders of remembrance initiatives in a place where Jewish culture once flourished.

 

Ellen Cassedy, Author

Tuesday         1:30 PM to 3:00 PM          June 2

1 Session       $15                                     Class 625 

Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Cassatt are household names today.  But have you heard of Paul Durand-Ruel who discovered them?  This program will focus on the art dealer and his vital role in promoting the then unknown Impressionist.  Providing you with a "sneak preview" of the exhibition honoring him at the Philadelphia Museum of Art from June 24 to September 13.  Direct from the Musee du Luxembourg in Paris and the National Gallery of Art in London, this exciting show will highlight the works Ruel helped to make famous including Renoir's "Dance in the Country" and "Two Sisters," Cassatt's "Child Taking a Bath" (considered her most admired work of this genre), as well as a selection of Monet's poplar and garden scenes plus Degas' depictions of the ballet.

 

Joan Hart, Art Historian

Thursday         1:00 PM to 2:30 PM          June 4

1 Session        $15                                     Class 587  

Join us for a trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and discover works of art at one of the largest and most renowned museums in the country. Find beauty, enchantment, and the unexpected among artistic and architectural achievements from the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. We will tour the exhibit Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting. Discovering the Impressionists examines the critical years from 1865 to 1905 when Durand-Ruel both inspired and sustained artists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, ?douard Manet, Camille Pissarro, and Edgar Degas. For more information about the museum and the exhibit visit their website at www.philamuseum.org. Lunch will be on your own at the museum.

 

Tour Guide

Friday            8:00 AM to 6:30 PM          June 26 

1 Session      $100                                   Class 650