Opera Flashcards
Opera Seria: When, where?
- Late Baroque period
- Venetian opera school
Opera Seria: Acts
3
Opera Seria: Dialogue
Sung
Opera Seria: Subject matter
Stories of ancient kings, queens, gods and goddesses
Opera Seria: Which type of singers were commonly used?
Castrato singers
Opera Seria: What was the main concern and dominated the opera?
The music
Opera Seria: Which types of singing were exploited?
Coloratura and bel canto singing
Opera Seria: What kept the opera together?
-Virtuosity
-Spectacular stage effects
-Intrigue
(as the plot was usually not credible)
Opera Seria: Which social class was it aimed at?
The upper class
Opera Seria: Which aria was very popular?
The da capo aria
Opera Buffa: When, where?
- 17th Century
- Rome
Opera Buffa: How did it begin?
It began as comic skits between acts of an opera
Opera Buffa: Characters
Were common people, representing professions and social classes
Opera Buffa: What did the stories deal with?
Humorous events from everyday life
Opera Buffa: How many acts and what did they use?
- 2 acts
- Using song, spoken dialogue and action
Opera Buffa: Which style was used?
-Porlando style: quick spoken dialogue with pieces of recitative in between
Opera Buffa: What is used for comic situations?
Recitativo secco
Opera Buffa: Which texts is preference given to?
- Texts dealing with national life
- Texts in the native language or dialect
- Folk songs and dances
Opera Buffa: Are the castrato singers?
No
Opera Buffa: Which social class did it appeal to?
Middle Class
Opera Buffa: What type of finale did it have?
Ensemble type finale in the form of a quartet
Singspiel: Origin
German origin
German form of opera Buffa
Singspiel: Dialogue
Spoken dialogue, rather than recitative
Singspiel: Melodies
Simple, resembling German folk songs
