3806 - Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas (Peter Campos and Judith Costello)
Course Description
Instructors: Peter Campos and Judith Costello
Gilbert and Sullivan (G&S) produced some of the most iconic operettas in the Western musical canon, notably HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and the Mikado. Their other plays have had a mixed reception over the years, but many individual songs and tunes are still fondly remembered. In this class we will explore the origin, plot, characters, and selected songs from all the operettas, with more intensive examination for the Big Three. Each week we will feature aspects of the team’s work, factors that stimulated or hindered their creativity, and contentious moments between the talent that almost ended this relationship prematurely. Of course, singing along will be encouraged with lyrics accompanying many of the songs, so feel free to indulge in person or on Zoom. Note: This 7-week course is very similar to previous G&S classes I’ve conducted over the years.
Instructor Bios:
Peter Campos
Peter Campos is a clinical psychologist who was on faculty at SUNY-Binghamton and at Emory Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry. For over 40 years he taught courses related to psychopathology, clinical research methods, applied statistics, and career development. Until his retirement he ran a program evaluation company to help nonprofit organizations. His lifelong “passion subjects” include English and Roman history. He shares his love of these subjects as an instructor at OLLI-at-Emory, where he also served on the Leadership Council and on the Curriculum Committee.
Judith Costello
Judith Mann Costello is a native of Oak Park, Illinois, where she divided her first 20 years between the family bookstore founded by her grandfather and the Frank Lloyd Wright-remodeled home where she was raised. She has lived in New York City, Florida, and Michigan, and, since 1984, in the Atlanta area. She holds a degree in Music Journalism from the University of South Florida. Following a long career as a classical music host for NPR stations WUSF and WFBE, Judith spent 25 years as Academic and Political Officer for the Canadian Consulate General in Atlanta, retiring in 2013. She has been an OLLI at Emory instructor since 2024 and, to date, has presented more than 20 courses on music.