opera
literally means “a work,” a drama with continuous music and sets
Where did Montiverdi work?
St. Mark’s basilica in Venice, which was one of the leading music institutes
What were the thee opera centres?
1) Florence
2) Mantua
3) Venice
Why was the legend of Orpheus?
man’s wife dies from a snake bite, and he goes to retrieve her from the underworld. His instruction was to not look at her until he gets back to Earth, but he looks at her and she dies again
What was the importance of the legend of Orpheus?
Orpheus was a musician and charmed his way into the underworld. Academics used this play to justify the use of music in plays, and it led to the development of operas
Why was continuous singing more believable in pastoral than urban settings?
humans in urban settings usually speak (not sing) to one another
What were some early examples of similar things to operas in the Renaissance era?
1) pastoral drama
2) madrigal (usually portray dramatic scenario)
3) Intermedio (5 act play that has interludes for music)
Monody
solo voice with accompaniment (solo madrigal, aria, recitative)
recitative
11 or 7 syllables, free rhyme scheme
strophic form
poetic structure
Characteristics of operas in Rome
- saints, comic operas
- stage effects REALLY FANCY
- female roles sung by castrati
- extended choruses
Characteristics of operas in Venice
- public opera houses
- solo singing + SMALL orchestra
- historical characters not legends and human relationships
tiatro san Cassiano
first venetian public theatre
what is carnival season in Venice?
- a lot of people travel to Venice between Christmas and lent
- sizeable and diverse audience
- 9 opera houses
- multiple performances of one opera
What were Montiverdi’s opera characteristics?
- expressive recitative
- rapid alternation between musical styles
- constantly thinking about how he can best express words and dramatic moments
Aria style
- clear metre
- regular rhythm in the vocal line
- fast, steady bass line
- text in rhymed verses
arioso style
- between recitative and aria
recitative style
- speech like rhythm in the vocal line
