Romantic Opera Flashcards
When is the Romantic era?
1825-1910.
Why was Rossini popular throughout Europe?
Graceful, ornate melody with infectious, driving rhythm (Rossini crescendo). Still largely Classical (recite/aria).
Rossini Crescendo
Not only increasing volume, but also rhythmic quickening and textural thickening, with register change.
The Age of Beethoven and Rossini
Phrase used by Austrian music historian. Summation of early romanticism. Implies disparity.
What is the implied disparity in the Age of Beethoven and Rossini?
Beethoven was serious, intense, and ambitious while Rossini was “Buffa,” frivolous, entertaining, and commercially successful.
When was there a split between “serious” and “popular” music?
The Age of Beethoven and Rossini.
In the Age of Beethoven and Rossini, there was a split between…
Serious and popular music.
Does opera in the early Romantic era fall in serious or popular music?
Popular.
Opera, just as the symphony, became more ___ over time.
Serious.
What changed with opera’s in the mid-19th century?
More ambitious, serious opera. Desire for realism.
Music profound above all arts. What does this romantic ideal mean?
- Not simply mimetic, doesn’t have to represent things.
- Not a vehicle for spectacle, but for a meaningful message.
Who dominated Italian opera from the 1840’s onward?
Giuseppe Verdi.
All of Verdi’s operas are ___.
Serious. Most end in the death of one or more of the leading characters.
Style of Verdi’s operas:
- Orchestra larger, more involved.
- Almost no dry (secco) recitative.
- Subtler distinction between recite/aria (greater continuity).
- Voices still central (bel canto) – beautiful, expressive melodies.
Bel Canto
Voices central, beautiful and expressive melodies.
Ensemble
“Together,” several characters interact dramatically and musically. Not new to Verdi, Classical comic opera (buffs), Mozart.
Characteristics of ensembles:
- Fully developed musical pisces.
- Advance the plot – characters interacting dramatically and musically.
- Musical-emotional polyphony.
What is known as musical-emotional polyphony?
Ensembles.
___ quartet is one of the greatest examples of a 19th-century ensemble.
Rigoletto.
Rigoletto
Story from a play by Victor Hugo. Politically risky theme of corruption. Rigoletto, hunchbacked jester to womanizing Duke, has a beautiful daughter, whom he’s kept a secret. Fake has learned of her and she’s fallen for him in disguise. Rigoletto seeks revenge and hires an assassin. Assassin lures Duke to a decrepit inn with his sister.
Puccini
Last great composer of Italian opera. Pulled from various influences.
What did Puccini borrow from Verdi?
Importance of singer, melody, drama.
What did Puccini borrow from Wagner?
Orchestral colour, leitmotifs.
Lines between recitative and aria are completely cleared in ___’s operas.
Puccini.
Whose operas was characterized by realism mitigated by exoticism?
Puccini.
Whose operas included psychological states, specifically the hopeless, co-dependant woman?
Puccini.
