Opera (Classical) Flashcards
What was the other type of popular opera during the classical period?
Comic opera, which included ballad opera in England, opera comique in France, Singspiel in Germany, and Opera Buffa in Italy. The most popular comic opera was John Gay “The Beggar’s Opera” (Classical)
Who was Christoph Willibald Gluck and how did he contribute to opera?
He restored dramatic integrity to opera, which was lost due to opera singers trying excessively to showcase their virtuosity. He restored the chorus as an integral part of opera, brought back the overture in small pieces after the actual overture, eliminated recitativo secco, and tried to minimize the contrast between recitative and aria by frequently using arioso (in between recitative and aria) (Classical)
What is opera buffa?
Italian comic opera with down-to-earth characters, fast-paced plots, and is sung throughout with no spoken dialogue (Classical)
What is terzetto?
A musical number for 3 voices (Classical)
What is a trouser role?
A female singer dressed up in male clothing to replace the unethical castrato practice (Classical)
What is an overture?
The orchestral work preceding an opera or oratorio that may be heard throughout the work in late 18th century operas (Classical)
What is a Singspeil?
A German comic opera that contains spoken dialogue instead of singing (Classical)
What is modified sonata form?
Sonata form with no development, frequently used in overtures (Classical)
ALL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO
Plot: Figaro and Susanna, servants to a count, are about to get married. However, when the count tries to seduce Susanna, Susanna tells the countess about this and the count ends up begging his wife for forgiveness
Genre: Opera Buffa
Composer: Mozart
Librettist: Lorenzo da Ponte
Language: Italian
Source of Libretto: a controversial French play by Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais
Date: 1786
Structure: 4 acts (Classical)
Musical characteristics of Overture
Exposition First theme: Very joyful, active melody in D major
Exposition Second theme: More Lyrical, active melody in A major
Recapitulation: First and Second themes restated in D major
Key: D major (Classical)
Musical Characteristics of “Non so più” (Cherubino’s Aria)
Form: ABA1C
Key: E flat major
Cherubino starts in the middle register but as agitation increases, so does the musical register. Additionally, short rests indicate a restless mood (Classical)
Musical Characteristics of “Ah! Son perduto” (Recitativo secco: Susanna, Count, Basilio)
Recitativo secco (Classical)
Musical Characteristics of “Cosa sento!” (Terzetto: Count, Basilio, Susanna)
The count, Basilio, and Susanna all sing different parts with orchestral accompaniment in this piece employing sonata form (Classical)
Who was Mozart?
Arguably the most significant composer in history, he developed and perfected nearly all classical genres and adhered to all the Viennese ideals. He composed operas, solo keyboard music, chamber music, symphony, sacred music and concerto. In Opera, he created opera seria such as Idomeneo, Opera buffa such as the Marriage of Figaro, and Singspiel such as the Magic Flute. He was a master of all parts of all these types of operas. He also created a double exposition for concertos and used modified exposition for overtures. (Classical)
