Ch 18 Late Romantic Era - vocab and composers

Question 1

What opera of Guiseppi Verdi is based on the play “Le roi s’amuse” (The King Amuses Himself) by Victor Hugo?

Answer 1

Rigoletto (1851) : scandalized Paris in 1832 with its depiction of a dissolute, womanizing king and a jester who tries to have him assissinated; (it was closed by police and the “king” character later demoted to “duke”)

Question 2

Wagner

Answer 2

Die Valkyrie, Act I, scene i

Question 3

Puccini

Answer 3

Madame Butterfly

Question 4

music drama

Answer 4

Wagner’s name for distinctive type of opera.

Question 5

bel canto

Answer 5

a style of singing that brings out the sensuous beauty of the voice

Question 6

Gesamtkunstwerk

Answer 6

“Total work of art”—Wagner’s term for his music dramas

Question 7

leitmotiv

Answer 7

guiding or leading motive in Wagner’s operas

Question 8

bel canto opera

Answer 8

term for early Romantic opera, which featured ‘bel canto’ singing

Question 9

19th century

Answer 9

golden age of opera: Germany, France, Italy, Bohemia and Russia

Question 10

Who said this: “Carve this into your head, in letters of brass: An opera must draw tears, cause horror, bring death, by means of song.”

Answer 10

Opera composer Vincenzo Bellini, 1834

Question 11

What two important themes did opera tie into in the Romantic era?

Answer 11

1) combined music w/ poetry, literature & philosophy;
2) composers ‘n librettists pondered meaning ‘n message; opera = serious drama in music (not just song, spectacle ‘n entertainment)

Question 12

Who wrote these Romantic novels: “Ivanhoe”, “The Lady of the Lake”, and “The Bride of Lammermoore”?

Answer 12

Novelist Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)

Question 13

Who are 3 other playwrights and poets that influenced the Romantic era composers of opera?

Answer 13

–Lord Byron (Brit) - Romantic poems and plays
–Victor Hugo (Fr) - “Les Misérables”
–Shakespeare (Brit) - tragedies: “Macbeth” ‘n “Othello”;
and a comedy: “The Merry Wives of Windsor”.

Question 14

What did Guiseppe Verdi care about the most in his operas?

Answer 14

• -voice NOT to be overshadowed by the orchestra

- -dramatic quality of his operas

Question 15

According to Verdi, what are 3 main characteristics of “dramatic quality”?

Answer 15

1) people
2) people placed in situations in which strong, exciting actions bring out equally strong emotions
3) the right vocal melody to capture a dramatic situation

Question 16

What is the function of recitative and aria in Italian opera?

Answer 16

• –declamation (recitative) for the action and dialogue portions of an opera
• –melody (arias) for reflective, emotional expression

Question 17

What 2 things are Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) best known for in the era of Italian Romantic Opera?

Answer 17

1) opera buffas eg”The Barber of Seville” - style close to Mozart eg overtures = sonata form (musical Classicism trademark)
2) serious operas, Rossini established “bel canto” singing, coloratura arias, eg Desdemona’s “Willow Song” from his Shakespeare opera “Otello”

Question 18

What 3 things did Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) contribute in the early Italian Romantic Opera scene?

Answer 18

1) cont. “bel canto” opera s/p Rossini’s retirement (in 1829)
2) > 60 operas w/ simple sentimental arias ‘n blood-and-thunder action music.
3) Three most famous operas:
a) hx’ical novel:Sir Walter Scott, “Lucia di Lammermoor”
b) opera buffa,”Don Pasquale”
c) opera trilogy: hx of 3 Eng qns: “Anna Bolena”(ill-fated 2nd wife of Henry VIII), “Maria Stuarda” (Mary Qn of Scotts) ‘n “Roberto Devereus” (Qn Elizabeth I ‘n Robert Devereus, Earl of Essex)

Question 19

What are 3 things to remember about Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835) ‘n his contribution ‘n influence on the early Italian Romantic Opera scene?

Answer 19

1) most refined of the three early “bel canto” composers
2) wrote < operas but his finest opera “Norma”: demands highly expressive singing, coloratura fireworks and great acting (all in unusual quantities)
3) Verdi admired melodious Bellini but learned > from > robust & dramatic Donizetti

Question 20

What 5 things did Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) contribute in the early Italian Romantic Opera scene?

Answer 20

1) imprtnt founder of German Romantic Opera
2) mst imprtnt work “Der Freischütz” (the Magic Bullet) = German folktale/ballad put to music.
3) two spiritual arias, in the MB, sung by character, Agatha = Romantic melody at its best;
4) German choruses: in folk-song style
5) Supernatural subject matter + strongly moral overtone; (#3-5 are still evident in Wagner’s operas much later)

Question 21

Name three legendary singers of the “bel canto” era:

Answer 21

Pauline Viardot (Fr)(1821-1910) (also a Sp composer)
Maria Malibran (Sp) (1808-1836) (brn in Paris, died in Eng)
Guilia Grisi (It)(1811-1869)
---their fvrt showcase = Vincenzo Bellini's opera "Norma"

Question 22

What are two major ways that Verdi’s orchestral music of Romantic Italian Opera is different from earlier operatic styles?

Answer 22

• -the orchestra is not restricted to simple chords;

- -orch plays more active, motivic, excited music: points up words ‘n urges the singers on.

Question 23

What are 4 things that differentiate the operas of Verdi from the earlier Italian operas?

Answer 23

1) recitative: highly melodramatic; almst own melodic style
2) aria: formally complete ‘n distinct (seprte concert pcs)
3) arias ‘n duets, orch.’s role is smaller, w/ rich harmonies underpinning melodic high points ‘n climaxes
4) many (not all) = simple strophic songs w/ exuberant Romantic melody style eg:
a) “Va pensiero” from “Nabucco”;
b) soprano aria “Addio, del passato” from “La traviata;
c) tenor aria “Celest Aida” from “Aida”.