The Evolution of Opera: Musical Theatre at its Finest

A Presentation by Miss Kristen Danielle Parks TH 290.35 Intro to Theatre Mrs. K. Pierce, Instructor Miles College Summer 2013

At A Glance
WHO

is The Florentine Camerata? WHAT is Opera? WHEN was Opera created? WHERE was Opera performed? WHY was Opera important? HOW has Opera evolved?

Who is The Florentine Camerata?

The Florentine Camerata was a group of artistic intellectuals who sought to revive the art of musical drama, as first seen in ancient Greece.

What is Opera?

Le Nuove Musiche: The New Music Monody- one song Large scale play or drama Entire text set to music Not to be confused with a musical Four Key Components: -Overture -Aria -Recitative -Chorus

Around the year 1600 End of Renaissance period Beginning of Baroque period Polyphony to Monody

When was Opera created?

Where was Opera performed?

Throughout Western Europe Popular in Italy, France and England Entertainment at royal weddings an other special events First public opera house, San
Cassiano, opened in Venice; 1637

Why is Opera important?

Most notable development of the Baroque period Gave women artistic visibility and opportunities as professional musicians Gave countries nationalistic liberty Continues to allow for artists, vocally and instrumentally, to build professional careers

How has Opera evolved?

The Opera of Old still exists Venues Range of expertise Salaries/Career tracks for artists Cost of Production Support of the Art on a local level

Opera in the Baroque Period

Left: Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) Italian composer, known as the Master of Italian Opera, most known for his opera, Orfeo Right: Henry Purcell (1659-1695) English composer, birthed English opera in the midst of religious persecutions, most known for his opera, Dido and Aeneas

Below: A display of intimacy in Purcells Dido and Aeneas as presented by the Opera Alterna Company on March 28, 2008 in Callan Theatre
at the Hartke Theatre building on the campus of the Catholic University of America

Above: A performance of Monteverdis Orfeo at the Boston Early Music Festival in Jordan Hall at Brandeis University on Saturday, November 24, 2012

Opera in the Classical Period

Far Left: Christophe Willibald Gluck, noted for opera seria (serious or tragic Italian opera), who led operactic reforms for truthful expressiveness Far Right: John Gay, responsible for opera buffa (Italian comic opera), known for his work The Beggars Opera utilizing audience vernacular and unusual characters Center: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Austrian composer, child prodigy; most known operatic piece is The Marriage of Figaro

Left: Donald Groves and Melissa Parks as Filch and Mrs. Peachum in the revival preimiere of The Beggar's Opera presented at the Castleton Festival by the Castleton residency on July 5, 2009 in Castleton, WV.

Right: A scene from Mozarts The Marriage of Figaro presented by and at the Pearl Theatre Company in NYC from November 4-December 2, 2012

Opera in the Romantic Period

Left: Richard Wagner, Germany-born Romantic composer, seen as the greatest composer of German opera; most known for The Ride of the Valkyries, which was an example of his creation, music drama (theatrical genre without arias, choruses, with endless melodic lines and leitmotifs [leading motives]) Right: Giuseppe Verdi (1831-1901), born in northern Italy, one of the most beloved composers of opera because of his emotional energy and willing engagement of creativity and dramatic expressiveness

Left: Georges Bizet (1838-1875), French composer, one of the first to display exoticism of setting in his opera, Carmen, which happened to be a Spanish opera Right: Georgia-born mezzo soprano

Early Twentieth Century Opera

Left: Igor Stravinsky Right: Scott Joplin

Left: William Grant Still Right: George Gershwin (1898-

 Continuous revitalization of the operatic classics World-wide efforts towards the preservation of the art International workshops Arts Education for Youth Scale of presentation is immensely ornate and realistic One of the most stable and dignified careers in the profession of Performing Arts Longevity and integrity is created by respectable and passionate portrayal

The World of Opera in 2013

Fin
Stars & Roses from a Sweet Diva,

References: