Peer Review

GOpera.com

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Jun 29, 2009 by Music

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This is an eclectic collection of materials of interest to the site author, Belgian engineer Margo Briessinck. The title refers to two of the author's passions -- opera, and the Japanese game of Go. Material potentially useful to MERLOT members includes links to information on German Lieder and other art song, and links to opera- and Lieder-related sites. Links open content pages containing song text translations and listing of selected art songs and opera.
Type of Material:: Art song titles, text translations, opera titles, support networks for opera and lieder performance.
Recommended Uses:: The two areas in the website of most immediate interest are "The Art of Singing Piano," ("About (mainly German) art song: composer's Lieder opus, recital database, live recordings, links, ...") and "Winterreise" ("Dedicated to Franz Schubert's Lied cycle Winterreise on Wilhelm Müller's poems"). Either would be of use to a voice teacher or coach working with student singers or student accompanists in the German repertoire, or a teacher of music history whose lesson plans include units on German Lieder or opera. Authors of program and liner notes will find useful information on the site.
Technical Requirements:: internet browser, mp3 player (knowledge of Dutch also a plus!)
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Author of the site Briessinck comes to music as an audience member, not an active participant. On this website, he has accumulated links to information that informs his appreciation of Lieder and opera. The user will be better able to appreciate these two genres by recognizing and understanding their contexts.
Target Student Population:: Voice performance students of high school age or above, undergraduate and graduate music history students. Program planners and authors of program texts.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: There is an Opera blog that requires the user to read Dutch.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: Material gathered would be useful to any singer working with these songs translations for Winterreise songs are available in Danish, Dutch, English, Portuguese and Spanish. Translations also available in English for Mahler Kindertotenlieder, Schubert Schone Mullerin and Schwanengesang, and Schumann Liederkreis and Dichterliebe. includes comprehensive list of recordings up to 2006 which can be sorted by singer, accompanist, date of recording, and voice type includes all of Lotte Lehmann's wonderful illustrations for Winterreise
Concerns:: Since this site seems to be a hobby of the author and serves as a platform for his interest, education, in the traditional sense, is not the goal. Some areas were last updated 1999; discography is dated 2003 but one recording is from 2006; bio says "updated July 28 2005" no attempt made at comprehensive coverage.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: Lieder text translations are a major plus for this site. A drop-down menu provides options in Danish, Dutch, English, Portuguese, and Spanish among others.
Concerns:: Because this material was not intended as a teaching tool, it is not hierarchical or progressive. The scope is limited. There is nothing to engage the student except the volume of information.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: Home page is simple to read and provides links to all aspects of the site.
Concerns:: Menus are inconsistent and link symbols are not clearly explained. MIDI files don't always work. Both Winterreise and Art of Singing Piano areas are self-contained no links to home page for GoOpera. Makes backing out hard. The two areas are also inconsistent in their navigation protocols.

Other Issues and Comments:: This is a novelty site that would be of interest to persons in opera on art songs and only those areas which are also of interest to the author.
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