Wagner's Opera Flashcards
What opinion did Wagner have on parts?
He thought all parts should be equal
What is a Liberetto?
A text used in or used for Opera
What were Librettos in Wagner’s Opera?
they were the Script
What did Wagner do with librettos?
He wrote his own
What did Wagner think his librettos would be?
He thought his own mythology would be the basis of the culture in the new unified Germany
What were Wagner’s librettos based on?
Norse and Medieval Tales but he rewrote them
Did the singing ever stop in Wagner’s Opera?
No, The singing was continuous
Could arias be seperate in a Wagner concert?
No
What combination was in Wagner’s Opera that inspired later music?
Combination of Speech and song
What was special about the melody of Wagner’s Opera?
Never a memorable melody
What demand did Wagner put on his singers?
Extraordinary demand, required an unusual amount of stamina
What type of Operas did singers do?
Traditional or Wagnerian Opera
What was the most important part in the Wagnerian Opera?
The Orchestra
What section was huge in the Wagnerian Opera?
Big Brass Section
Where was the orchestra in Wagner’s Operas?
Under the stage, to muffle the sound
What did Wagner’s Orchestra display?
ALL the emotion, set the scene
What did Wagner use to symbolize people or events?
Leitmotifs (Repeated Melodies) SPIDERMAN 2099
What melodic style did Wagner use?
Chromatic style, evading cadences, approaching climaxes then recede, no finality
What was Wagner’s Masterpiece?
Four Ring Operas (Der Ring des Dibelungen)
What was special about Wagner’s Four Ring Operas?
Each opera was 5-6 hours, and for any logic you would have to hear the entire work
What were some of Wagner’s famous pieces?
Die Walkure (Valkyries), Rienzi, Lohengrin
What did Wagner sought to control?
Every element of opera from the Singers to the Orchestra
