Arthur Kaplan
Arthur Kaplan has over 20 years of experience in the opera field, lecturing for major opera companies in this country and leading opera groups to France and Italy. In addition, Arthur has edited the San Francisco Opera Magazine, written numerous scholarly articles on opera, and has interviewed various opera personalities. Using his knowledge of the many aspects of the opera world, Arthur provides a series of lectures and informal commentary to complement performing arts tours. He has led Smithsonian opera tours to Santa Fe, New York, France, and Italy. Arthur will lead the May 2013 departure.
John Sweets
Professor Sweets is Professor Emeritus of History, specializing in the Vichy France era, the French Resistance, and occupied France. He has taught 19th and 20th century European history at the University of Kansas, University College, Dublin (Ireland), The School of International Studies (Fort Bragg, NC), and at the Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon (France). Professor Sweets has received two NEH Fellowships for his research and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He has authored many works on France, including The Politics of Resistance in France (1976) and Choices in Vichy France (1986), and has edited four volumes of The Proceedings of the Western Society for French History (1982-85). His other current research interests include a case study of the Lacemakers of Le Puy in the 19th century and an investigation of France and the Holocaust. John will lead the April, September, and October 2013 departures.
