The academic Honor Society of the Phi Beta Kappa hosted a Lamont Guest Artist on Tuesday evening in the Newman Center for the Performing Arts.

Former Professor of Music Composition at the University of Chicago John Eaton presented his lecture “On Different Tracks: The simultaneous presentation of different levels of reality in opera.”

About 40 students, professors and community members attended the free public lecture.

Eaton presented his work in a mixture of film and lecture, explaining how sound expresses dramatic emotion with a series of examples.

“The use of dissonance [in the opera “The Cry of Clytemnestra”] makes the opera more intense and dramatic,” said Eaton.

He added that in the opera “Danton and Robespierre,” the “argument of opera” portrays the terror of Robespierre’s French Revolution vision with a musical clash.

First-year student Jessica Eastin attended the lecture with other classmates.

“The lecture exposed me to a new facet of composition and opera,” said Eastin.

She added, “I was surprised by Eaton’s modern and eccentric interpretation of music, but I admire him for his daring approach to opera and orchestra.”

The Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society is America’s oldest fraternity and sorority.

According to its Web site, it was founded in 1776, and focuses on academia, offering annual scholarships and seeking to foster and recognize excellence.

Eaton’s lecture was part of the Newman Center’s Master Class and Workshop seminar.

Eaton is a composer and world performer of electronic and microtonal music.

He formed the Pocket Opera Players in 1991, in which he composed original operas for five plays, including historical plays and “The Tempest.”

He has been recognized by numerous fellowships and the National Endowment for the Arts for his original compositions.