MUSIC 100 CHAPTER 14
the marriage of figaro: plot
-figaro is engaged to susanna, but has borrowed money from Marcellina and must repay or marry her -susanna rebukes the count's romantic advances; the count sides with Marcellina to force figaro to marry her -figaro's identity as the long-lost child of Marcellina and Dr. Bartolo is revealed; thus, figaro does not have to marry marcellina -susanna and the countless plot to swap identities to trick the count into trying to seduce susanna again -happy ending: >the count falls for the plot and is exposed >the countess forgives the count >susanna and figaro marry >marcellina and dr. bartolo marry
classical opera genres: singspiel
-german comic opera with spoken dialogue
Haydn's vocal music: Oratorios
-inspired by Handel's works; Haydn composed three oratorios -The Creation is the best-known and musically depicts the creation of the world -written for soloists, chorus, orchestra
classical opera genres: opera buffa
-italian comic opera -Don Giovanni, 1787 -cosi fan tutte, 1790
classical opera genres: opera seria
-italian serious opera -Idomeneo, 1781
act
-large section of an opera -operas often have 2 or 3 acts -intermissions often observed between acts
Haydn's vocal music: Masses
-last six Masses, composed between 1796 and 1802 are crowning achievements -Missa in angustiis -
attending an opera: classical era
-many sung in italian, some in vernacular -many audience members knew plots prior to attending performance
the marriage of figaro: characteristics
-opera buffa (comic opera) -written for soloists, chorus, and orchestra -based on french play by Beaumarchais, first produced in 1782 -original plot was controversial: mocked aristocracy -mozart and da Ponte turn the play into intricate and amusing story involving a pair of lovers, intrigues between servant and master, discovered identity, and a few unlikely coincidences
attending an opera: modern era
-opera houses place English translations in super titles above stage -audience members can read plots in program provided prior to performance
scene
-subdivision of an act -usually no intermissions taken between scenes
