The University of Western Ontario Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

 

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ITA 2243B Ital ian Opera: Words and Music

Winter 2016 Dr. Maria Laura Mosco

mmosco@uwo.ca

Tentative (Updated, July 28, 2015)

https://westernuitalian.wordpress.com/category/events/

(Unofficial Blog of the Italian Program) Anti-requisites: none

Course description: What do pop music, soap opera, videogames and Italian opera have in common?… Love, death, desire, honour, betrayal, power. In Italian Opera: Words and Music student will learn the linguistic and literary specificity of Italian libretti, while exploring the major themes of riveting Italian operas. This course will investigate some major Italian libretti in the operatic repertoire from the birth of this genre to nowadays, looking in particular at their stylistic and linguistic differences. The exploration of the historical, political, and cultural context in general, will provide students with the necessary background to fully comprehend the development of the form of the libretto since its appearance in theatrical performances in Italian courts in the sixteenth century. The investigation of the interplay among librettists, composers, impresarios, singers, critics, and last but not least, the audience, will have a pivotal role in understanding the evolution of the genre. Questions such as literary dignity of the libretti , poetry vs music and the role of the audience, the changing role of the librettists through time, and the

The University of Western Ontario Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

 

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dispute variation vs adaptation will be also addressed. The relation with video gaming and advertising will also be discussed. A selection of texts by, among others, Alessandro Striggio, Silvio Stampiglio, Pietro Metastasio, Lorenzo Da Ponte, Francesco Maria Piave, Arrigo Boito, Nino Rota and Ernesta Rinaldi Rota, will be considered. No specific literary, music, or Italian knowledge is required. Taught in English with tutorial in English, and in Italian (only for students of the Italian programme). Students will also be able to enjoy guest lectures by experts from diverse areas. Objectives: - Guide students through trends and genres of Italian Opera, such as favola in musica, intermezzo, opera seria, opera buffa, dramma lirico - Guide the students into understanding the linguistic and literary specificity of Italian libretti across time - Exploring the major themes of Italian operas such as love, death, desire, honour, betrayal Learning outcomes: - Acquire a basic knowledge of the significant Italian librettists and composers from the XVI century to XXI century - Identify and analyse the specific traits of the libretto form and its development through time - Understand how the historical, social and cultural conditions influenced the writing of the librettos and Italian Opera in general.

Libretti that will be considered

Title Librettist(s) Composer La favola di Orfeo Favola in musica

Alessandro Striggio Claudio Monteverdi

Il Giasone. Dramma per musica Giacinto Andrea Cicognini

Francesco Cavalli

La serva padrona. Intermezzo in due atti

Gennaro Antonio Federico

Giovan Battista Pergolesi

Il barbiere di Siviglia. La precauzione inutile

Dramma giocoso in due atti

Giuseppe Petrosellini

Giovanni Paisiello

Le nozze di Figaro. Commedia per musica.

Lorenzo Da Ponte W. A. Mozart

La clemenza di Tito. Opera seria. KV Pietro Metastasio/ W. A. Mozart

The University of Western Ontario Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

 

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Textbook: A reader will be available at the bookstore, and a list of online resource will be available open source or via the Western Library Catalogue. Assessment: Class Participation 10% Mid-term test 20% Final test 20% Tutorial: 10% Course reading presentation and written synopsis: 15% Research paper 25% Total: 100%   Common statement for all MLL courses on academic accommodation, academic offenses, support services. The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures Policies which govern the conduct, standards, and expectations for student participation in Modern Languages and Literatures courses is available in the Undergraduate section of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures website at http://www.uwo.ca/modlang/undergraduate/policies.html. It is your responsibility to understand the policies set out by the Senate and the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, and thus ignorance of these policies cannot be used as grounds of appeal.

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Caterino Mazzolà

Il barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva, o sia l'inutile precauzione)

Dramma comico.

Cesare Sterbini Gioachino Rossini

Rigoletto. Melodramma in tre atti. Francesco Maria Piave

Giuseppe Verdi

Cavalleria rusticana Giovanni Targioni – Tozzetti/Guido

Menasci

Pietro Mascagni

Norma Felice Romani Vincenzo Bellini Falstaff.

Commedia lirica in tre atti.

Arrigo Boito Giuseppe Verdi

Tosca

Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica, Victorien Sardou

Giacomo Puccini

Il cappello di paglia di Firenze Ernesta Rinaldi/Nino Rota

Nino Rota

Lars Cleen  Walter Zidarič Paolo Rosato

The University of Western Ontario Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

 

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Missed Assignments Students seeking academic accommodation on medical or non-medical grounds for any missed tests, exams, participation components and/or assignments must apply to the Academic Counseling office of their home Faculty and provide documentation. Academic accommodation cannot be granted by the instructor or department. Please refer to the Policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/index.cfm and download a Student Medical Certificate (SMC): https://studentservices.uwo.ca