https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/learning-german-through-opera
Are you a German opera enthusiast? Have you always wished you could speak German, or improve your communication skills to engage more deeply with the operatic world? If so, these unique City Lit courses are designed especially for you.
About the courses
Our German for opera lovers courses blend your passion for German opera with structured, expert‑led language learning. You’ll develop your speaking, listening and reading skills through lively discussions about operas, composers, performance practice and opera‑related topics.
This isn’t just a language class—it’s a cultural experience
Katja Vanessa Parmar
Beginner course
German for opera lovers (beginners) [new course dates coming soon] offers a friendly and accessible introduction to everyday German through a unique language-learning experience that combines the beauty of opera with learning German. You will learn German alongside like‑minded enthusiasts while also gaining tools to understand German opera libretti with greater insight and confidence.
Mixed ability and advanced courses
If you already speak some German, the German for opera lovers (intermediate to advanced) mixed-ability course, and the German for opera lovers (advanced)course offer a unique setting to deepen your language skills while exploring the rich and varied world of German opera. Expect stimulating discussions, cultural insights and opportunities to refine both fluency and interpretation.
What you’ll learn
Across all levels, we explore one or two operas in depth, looking at:
- the plot and central themes
- character development
- historical and cultural contexts
- the libretto and pronunciation
- and of course — some music!
But our conversations don’t stop there. In past classes, we’ve also explored:
- the relationship between art and politics
- social media’s role within the arts
- profiles of celebrated singers, conductors and composers
- careers within the opera world
- personal stories from recent opera visits and recordings
After many years of teaching German to opera enthusiast and professionals in standard courses, I wanted to offer a platform that combines the love for the German language and opera. I have started offering the German for opera lover courses a couple of years ago and have not looked back.
Katja Vanessa Parmar
A community of opera enthusiasts
These courses are as much about community as they are about language.
Many participants continue the conversation beyond the classroom—meeting for coffee, attending opera performances or cinema screenings together, and sharing memorable operatic experiences.
Q&A: what our students say
Why are you doing the course?
“I want to know more in particular about German opera. I also want to improve my spoken German.”
“Ich möchte vor allem mehr über deutsche Oper erfahren. Ich möchte auch mein Deutsch verbessern.”
—Helen A.
“I’m doing this course to increase my knowledge of the German language and speak it more fluently”
“Ich mache diesen Kurs, um meine Kenntnis der deutschen Sprache zu vertiefen und meine Sprachkompetenz zu fördern.”
—Iain
“I started this course because I wanted to improve my German in a different way—with a focus on one topic rather than the usual broader approach. At first, I wasn’t a big opera fan, but I wanted to learn more about it. Now I’m a real opera lover (even Wagner!). Even when we cover the same opera over several sessions, it never gets boring. There are so many different perspectives from our wonderful teacher, our fellow students, and the opera singers and experts we read about, listen to, and discuss with. And the music is so beautiful.”
“Ich habe diesen Kurs begonnen, weil ich mein Deutsch auf eine andere Art verbessern wollte – mit Fokus auf ein Thema, anders als der übliche breitere Ansatzes. Anfangs war ich kein großer Opernfan, aber ich wollte mehr darüber lernen. Jetzt bin ich ein echter Opernlieber (sogar Wagner!). Selbst wenn wir dieselbe Oper über mehrere Sitzungen behandeln, wird es nie langweilig. Es gibt so viele verschiedene Perspektiven von unserer großartigen Lehrerin, unseren Mitstudierenden oder den Opernsängern und Experten, über die wir lesen, die wir hören und mit denen wir diskutieren. Und die Musik is so schön.”
—Marcia
Which aspects of the course do you enjoy most?
“I enjoy learning about operas which I haven’t yet seen and which are new to me. I also enjoy learning in more depth about operas which I already know a little bit about.”
“Ich lerne gerne mehr über Opern, die ich noch nicht gesehen habe. Ich lerne auch gerne etwas über Opern, von denen ich schon ein wenig weiß. Es ist gut, sie in mehr Tiefe zu studieren.”
—Helen A.
“I particularly enjoy getting to know some of my favourite operas better, as well as the challenge of discussing them in German.”
“Vor allem gefällt mir, einige meiner Lieblingsopern besser kennenzulernen, sowie die Herausforderung, sie auf Deutsch zu diskutieren.”
—Iain
Which operas have you come to understand or appreciate more deeply through the course?
“It has been very interesting to get to know the operas of Richard Strauss. In particular Der Rosenkavalier and Arabella. I had never seen these opera before. We have also studied the society in which Richard Strauss lived and his attitudes towards National Socialism.
We’ve often been able to attend performance of the operas we’ve studied in London, Glyndebourne, etc, including Die Walküre, Der Rosenkavalier, Parsifal, Fidelio.”
“Es ist sehr interessant, die Opern von Richard Strauss kennenzulernen, insbesondere der Rosenkavalier und Arabella. Ich hatte diese Opern noch nie gesehen. Wir haben auch etwas über die Gesellschaft erfahren, in der Strauss gelebt hat, vor allem über seine Haltung zum Nationalsozialismus.
Die Opern die wir behandelt haben, haben wir oft in z.B. London und Glyndebourne sehen können, darunter die Walküre, der Rosenkavalier, Parsifal, Fidelio.”
—Iain
How has sharing your passion for opera with others—whether through discussions, cinema or opera visits, or simply coffee and cake—enriched your life?
“Unfortunately, neither my husband nor my son like operas. That’s why it’s wonderful to be able to discuss operas with my classmates. It was also great to go to an opera at a country estate with a classmate in the summer. We had a picnic, watched a wonderful opera, and all in all spent a beautiful day together.”
“Leider mögen weder mein Mann noch mein Sohn Opern. Es ist daher großartig, mit meinen KlassenkameradeInnen Opern diskutieren zu können. Es war auch toll, im Sommer mit einer KlassenkameradInnnen eine Oper in einem Landhaus zu gehen. Wir haben ein Picknick gemacht, eine wunderbare Oper gesehen und alles in allem einen wunderschönen Tag verbracht.”
—Helen
“I very much enjoy the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for opera with friendly, like-minded people. The atmosphere in the group is very pleasant and relaxed. The occasional live session at Citylit in London are also a great advantage, with the opportunity to meet our tutor and the other participants face to face.”
“Es freut mich sehr, die Möglichkeit zu haben, meine Begeisterung für Oper mit gleichgesinnten, freundlichen Menschen zu teilen. Die Stimmung in der Gruppe ist sehr angenehm und entspannt. Auch der gelegentliche Präsenzunterricht bei City Lit in London gibt uns die Möglichkeit, unsere Lehrerin und die anderen Teilnehmer persönlich zu treffen.”
—Iain
Who teaches the courses?
Katja Vanessa Parmar is a qualified native German language teacher and coach with a BA in Literature and Linguistics and an MA in Phonetics from UCL. She has been teaching and coaching German to individuals and groups since 1995. At the City Lit, she has taught beginners to advanced classes as well as specialist courses on pronunciation, German song classes and the German language courses for opera lovers.
As a trained phonetician, singer and teacher, Katja specialises in coaching German pronunciation and teaching German to singers, conductors and directors in the international opera world including the prestigious Jette Parker Artist programme at the Royal Ballet and Opera, Covent Garden since 2003, Garsington Opera, Welsh National Opera House , Stadttheater Freiburg , the Academy of Ancient Music, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and The English Concert . Katja is the primary editor of Jacquelyn Stucker’s translation and phonetic transcription of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck published by Pendragon Press, 2020.
Katja has recently trained a group of foreign language tutors at City Lit on how to make sure language classes are accessible to all learners including learners with some hearing loss. Katja is also passionate about raising awareness and helping others understand how communication varies across different cultures.
