Opera

Question 1

Bel Canto

Answer 1

beautiful singing. long phrases, breath control and flexibility in singing both loudly and softly. words are often secondary

Question 2

grand opera

Answer 2

Spectacular opera. Performed with elaborate sets and costumes. Many people needed. Involves royalty, heroism, elaborate ballet scene, long.

Question 3

opera buffa

Answer 3

Comic opera. always sung in Italian. working class, maids, peasants, or servants, who keep busy getting the best of their employers.

Question 4

opera seria

Answer 4

Serious Opera. Often tragic stories, involves heroes and kings or ancient myths and gods.

Question 5

Singspiel

Answer 5

Evolved in German speaking countries out of the comic opera tradition. Includes elements of comic opera, spoken dialogue interjected among the sung phrases, and, often, an exotic or fanciful theme.

Question 6

music drama

Answer 6

Created by a single artist who writes both the text and the music to advance the drama. This style fuses many art forms, and makes each one as important as the others.

Question 7

overture

Answer 7

musical introduction played by the orchestra that often consists of excerpts from the opera.

Question 8

act

Answer 8

a group of scenes with a common theme, such as a specific time or place. most opera consist of 1-5 acts

Question 9

recitative

Answer 9

speech like singing that advances the plot. these songs are where the action takes place

Question 10

chorus

Answer 10

a musical piece sung by a group of people. the chorus may be sung on strafe off stage

Question 11

duet

Answer 11

a musical piece sung by 2 people

Question 12

trio

Answer 12

a musical piece sung by 3 people

Question 13

aria

Answer 13

a song sung by one person. arias allow singers to show off while reflecting on their emotions

Question 14

intermission

Answer 14

a break between acts. this allows audiences to stretch and the performers to rest

Question 15

libretto

Answer 15

the text or script of an opera

Question 16

melodrama

Answer 16

a dramatic presentation that exaggerates emotion and action.

Question 17

cultivate

Answer 17

to cultivate a professional singing voice for opera, you will need many years of training.

Question 18

convincingly

Answer 18

opera singers must be convincingly like their characters to make a mark in the competitive opera world

Question 19

grandeur

Answer 19

opera posses a visual grandeur

Question 20

accessible

Answer 20

opera has become more accessible over the years due to English translations

Question 21

intimidating

Answer 21

the high drama, foreign lyrics, and characters can seem intimidating

Question 22

majestic

Answer 22

stories told in opera can be majestic because of the singers, cast, costumes, and scenery.

Question 23

sustain

Answer 23

stronger plots and continuous music sustained the audience with their mood and suspense

Question 24

evolution

Answer 24

the evolution of opera has ben influence by composers, such as Richard wagner, and guissepe Verdi. the subject and material have changed as well.