OPERA Not just fat ladies wearing horns
OPERA Not just fat ladies wearing horns
Opera History � Drama sung to orchestral accompaniment
� Fusion of music, acting, poetry, dance, scenery, & costumes
� Began in Italy ~1600
� Associated with high social status � Royalty, Wealthy, etc.
� Serious, Comic, or both
� MAY contain dialogue, most – entirely sung
Music in Opera � Reveals characters/plot through song, not dialogue
� Creates mood, character, & dramatic action
� Makes characters more real
Other Aspects of Opera � Scenery, lighting, & stage machinery create
illusions � Fires, floods, storms, supernatural effects
� Costumes are very grand and ornate
Orchestra � Orchestra Pit – for instrumentalists/conductor
� Conductor – leads orchestra – keeps music and singers together
� Typically, not huge instrumentation � Except for Wagner’s operas
Characters � People overwhelmed by love, lust, hatred, and
revenge
� Wear disguises and commit extraordinary acts of violence
� Soloists must be able to create a variety of character types � Need to be actors and singers
Female Voice Ranges � Soprano – Highest
� Mezzo Soprano – Middle
� Alto – Lowest
Male Voice Ranges � Tenor – Highest
� Baritone – Middle
� Bass – Lowest
Operatic Voices � Coloratura Soprano – Very high range
� Lyric Soprano – Light, graceful, charming
� Dynamic Soprano – Full, passionate, powerful
� Lyric Tenor – Light, bright voice
� Dramatic Tenor – Powerful voice, heroic
� Basso Buffo – Comic roles, sings rapidly
� Basso Profundo – Very low, powerful - dignity
In Opera… � 1-5 Acts, divided into scenes
� One singer – Solo
� 3 or more singers – Ensemble
� All non-main characters singing – Chorus
� Dance – often incidental – used as part of the setting, not as part of the story
� Overture – plays before 1st act. Uses music that will be heard throughout the opera.
� Prelude – used to introduce acts other than 1st
Rules of Opera… � The text must be understood; the accompaniment
must be very simple and should not distract from the words.
� The words must be sung with correct and natural declamation, as if they were spoken and not rhyme like songs.
� The melody must interpret the feeling of the text.
Songs in Operas � Aria – Song for solo voice with orchestral
accompaniment. Expressive. Action stops and feelings revealed.
� Recitative – Vocal line imitates rhythms/pitch changes of speech. Sung quickly, clearly, often on repeated tones. Sets up Arias.
Translations � Translation options
� Supertitles – translation is projected above the stage
� Subtitles – translation is optionally provided on the backs of the chairs in the theater
Language of Operas � Most operas – in Italian, German, or French
� Controversial – Should opera be translated? � Some people think without lyrics, there is no true
understanding � Some people think audience should understand the
plot as it develops
Techniques � http://youtu.be/Fyql1do6KH4?t=46s
� From “L’Orfeo” by Claudio Monteverdi (1607)
� Uses “word painting”
� Word painting – when the music reflects the lyrics
� Vibrato – slight bending of the pitch while singing
Characters for Homework 1. Hoffman – Tales of Hoffman
2. Queen of the Night – The Magic Flute
3. Gianni Schicci – Gianni Schicci
4. Carmen – Carmen
5. Figaro – Marriage of Figaro
6. Don Giovanni – Don Giovanni
7. Papageno – The Magic Flute
8. Tosca – Tosca
9. Cleopatra – Giulio Caesare
10. Musetta – La Boheme
11. Nemorino – The Elixir of Love
12. Isolde – Tristan and Isolde