Opera The Art of Emotions By: Anndiva Mandley & Carol
Williams July 1, 2014
What is Opera? Opera is a total art form which combines several
expressive media; -Music -Singing -Drama -Poetry -Art (Staging)
-Sometimes Dance This complex combination makes an opera
performance an extraordinary show, where all human passions are at
work.
Main Parts of an Opera The Libretto- (Little Book) The script
of an opera The Singing- The emotional and intense text sung by the
actors The Music- Addresses the audiences heart The Staging- Visual
interpretation of the work
Historical Development of Opera 17TH CENTURY-BAROQUE PERIOD
Born in Italy around the late 16th century A revival of what was
thought to be the simplicity of tragedy First major opera still
performed today La favola dOrfeo (The Legend of Orpheus); by
Monteverdi in 1607 Small instrumental accompaniment punctuated by
musical interludes (Music subservient to words) First commercial
opera house opened in Venice in 1637 Opera soon spread throughout
Europe
Historical development of Opera BEL CANTO AND CLASSICAL REFORM
Two forms of opera developed in the 18th Century: - Opera Seria
(Serious Opera) - Opera Buffa (Comic Opera) Move from highlighting
words to highlighting singing -Bel Canto (Beautiful Singing)
Singing served the dramatic idea not the reverse Use of choruses
and ensembles to stress the collective nature of human
emotions
Historical development of Opera THE 19TH CENTURY Different
traditions developed in different countries Mix of serious and
comical traits Subjects drawn from contemporary life and recent
history The orchestra became part of the story
Historical development of Opera THE 20TH CENTURY: THE RISE OF
INDIVIDUALS Individual works rather than general trends appeared
Kurt Weill- (German born, American composer) inspired by jazz and
other jazz and other popular music Benjamin Britten- (English
composer) composed traditional operas and operas and chamber
operas
Historical development of Opera OPERA TODAY Operas today more
varied than ever Staging and setting have become key elements New
contemporary operatic themes Great pieces are being reinterpreted
and still successful
Famous Composers of the Eras ERA COMPOSER NATIONALITY PIECE
Claudio Monteverdi Italian L'Orfeo George Frideric Handel German
Agrippina Christoph Willibald Gluck German Iphignie en Tauride
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Salzberg (Austria/Germany) Don Giovanni
Giuseppe Verdi Italian Rigoletto Wilhelm Richard Wagner German
Tristan and Isolde George Gershwin American Porgy and Bess Kurt
Weill German Der Jasager Baroque Classical Romantic 20th
Century
Categories of Opera Voices
Main Categories of Opera Voices SOPRANO: Highest feminine
voice, that of the biggest roles of the repertoire. Tragic or
mythical heroines, but also maids, and other amusing
characters
Main Categories of Opera Voices MEZZO-SOPRANO: Italian for
medium soprano, it is the second highest female voice. With a
deeper and warmer voice than the sopranos, the mezzo-soprano
usually plays a secondary character such as a mature woman,
child-minder, witch, temptress or even young boy - in a nutshell,
witches, bitches and breeches.
Main Categories of Opera Voices CONTRALTO: Dark, low, noble
female voice. Quite rare in opera. It is often associated with
characters such as an elderly woman, maid, mother, grandmother or
witch
Main Categories of Opera Voices TENOR: The highest pitch of men
singing in chest voice, and the most popular in opera. Tenor roles
are parallel to soprano roles: the hero, the lover, and sometimes
the enemy.
Main Categories of Opera Voices BARITONE: Half-low male voice
Associated with a great variety of characters in the 18th century,
and more particularly with the enemy roles in the 19th century
Main Categories of Opera Voices BASS: Lowest male voice Often
associated with roles of wise men, older men, and sometimes funny
characters