Course Description
Examination of representative operas of each period in historical context. It analyses the roles played in the creation and production of operas by the patron/audience, librettist, composer, singers, conductor, director, machinist, and (when appropriate) film director.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Using primary sources, graduate students will write an in-depth
analysis of a particular feature or performance practice
problem.
Athena Title
History of Opera
Prerequisite
MUSI 3030 or MUSI 3210 or MUSI 3220 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the successful student will be able to: * demonstrate knowledge of the history of opera; * describe a wide range of performance-practice problems; * interpret writings and critical methodologies from several disciplines; * write in the language of the discipline
Topical Outline
1. Introduction to the discipline 2. Early Baroque opera; castrato; Baroque theater; tragedie lyrique 3. Metastasio; Mozart; the Mozart tenor 4. Bel canto; Bizet; Verdi 5. Strauss; the Fach system; Opera in Britain; Contemporary American opera
Syllabus