OperaOpera

How Did Opera BeginHow Did Opera Begin

Florence, Italy in about 1600Camerata

“The group that meets in the room”Wanted to start a new kind of musicThey combined poetry and music which led to opera

OrfeoWritten by Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi in 1607

Oldest opera that is still performedThe very first opera house opened in Venice in 1637

Florence, Italy in about 1600Camerata

“The group that meets in the room”Wanted to start a new kind of musicThey combined poetry and music which led to opera

OrfeoWritten by Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi in 1607

Oldest opera that is still performedThe very first opera house opened in Venice in 1637

Italian OperasItalian Operas

Had two kinds of musicRecitative

The characters are telling the story by having a conversation or describing an event

Singing that imitated the way people talk

AriaOne person is expressing his/her feeling about what is happening

Has a more elaborate melody

Had two kinds of musicRecitative

The characters are telling the story by having a conversation or describing an event

Singing that imitated the way people talk

AriaOne person is expressing his/her feeling about what is happening

Has a more elaborate melody

French OperasFrench Operas

Had more ballet and instrumental music

French composerJean-Baptiste Lully

Had more ballet and instrumental music

French composerJean-Baptiste Lully

English OperaEnglish Opera

Began with masqueA combination of poetry, songs, instrumental music, dancing, and acting performed in the royal court.

Greatest English opera composer was Henry PurcellDido and Aeneas

Began with masqueA combination of poetry, songs, instrumental music, dancing, and acting performed in the royal court.

Greatest English opera composer was Henry PurcellDido and Aeneas

Coming to AmericaComing to America

Came from England to South Carolina in the early 1770s

Ballad operaDialogue was spoken rather than sung, and the audience knows the tunes

Came from England to South Carolina in the early 1770s

Ballad operaDialogue was spoken rather than sung, and the audience knows the tunes

Italy in the 1700sItaly in the 1700s

Opera Seria- Serious operaOpera Buffa- Comic opera

Opera Seria- Serious operaOpera Buffa- Comic opera

German OperaGerman Opera

SingspielLiterally means “sing speak”Spoken dialogue rather than recitative

The Magic FluteThe most famous singspielBy Mozart

Richard WagnerChanged opera by having the orchestra play continuously and the singers sing throughout

SingspielLiterally means “sing speak”Spoken dialogue rather than recitative

The Magic FluteThe most famous singspielBy Mozart

Richard WagnerChanged opera by having the orchestra play continuously and the singers sing throughout

Who writes the wordsWho writes the words

LibrettoThe words to an operaMeans a “little book”

LibrettistThe person who write the librettoDecides what will happen in each scene and what words the singers will speak or sing

LibrettoThe words to an operaMeans a “little book”

LibrettistThe person who write the librettoDecides what will happen in each scene and what words the singers will speak or sing

Who writes the music?Who writes the music?Composer

Writes the musicSometimes writes the words tooTakes the words from the librettist and sets them to music that lets us know what the characters are feeling and what kind of people they are

Decides Size of the orchestraWhat instruments to useWhat voices to useHow many singers

ComposerWrites the musicSometimes writes the words tooTakes the words from the librettist and sets them to music that lets us know what the characters are feeling and what kind of people they are

Decides Size of the orchestraWhat instruments to useWhat voices to useHow many singers

What are they based on?

What are they based on?

Fairy TalesCinderellaHansel and Gretel

NovelsBilly Budd by Herman MelvilleCarmen by Prosper Merimee

EventsJulius CaesarBoris Godunov

MythsTristan and Isolde

Bible StoriesAmahl and the Night Visitors

Fairy TalesCinderellaHansel and Gretel

NovelsBilly Budd by Herman MelvilleCarmen by Prosper Merimee

EventsJulius CaesarBoris Godunov

MythsTristan and Isolde

Bible StoriesAmahl and the Night Visitors

What can you expect in opera stories?

What can you expect in opera stories?

SuspenseComedyMadnessLoveTragedyHorrorWar

SuspenseComedyMadnessLoveTragedyHorrorWar