Classical Opera and Choral Music

Italian Opera SeriaChristoph Willibald Gluck’s (1714 - 87) opera reforms:• Opera seria had to return to

basics • All elements must be

subservient to the overriding drama• Strove to achieve simplicity• Orfeo ed Euridice (1762)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1B85UQT4AY

Italian Opera Buffa

• Was sung in a language of the audience.• Was based on daily life situations.• Watch segment 10:

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=722&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Vienna&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=#• Presence of buffo – a bass voice character.• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9gyecxdyhI

• Examples• W. A. Mozart, “Marriage of Figaro” (1786)• G. Rossini, “The Barber of Seville” (1816)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qHZkkgowdY

German Singspiel

Spoken dialogue alternated with ensembles, songs, ballads, and arias.

Examples:• W. A. Mozart, “The Abduction from the Seraglio”(1782)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw84smtNE1QWatch segments 5 and 16:http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=11865&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=The%20Abduction%20from%20the%20Seraglio:%20Mozart%20in%20Turkey&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=#

• W. A. Mozart, “The Magic Flute” (1791)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwSK_wZX8Uchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqBwe9BCj4A

Classical Choral Forms• Mass• W. A. Mozart, “Great Mass in C Minor” (1783)

• Requiem Mass – a Mass for the Dead• W. A. Mozart, “Requiem” (1791)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia8ceqIDSJw

• Oratorio• J. Haydn, “The Creation” (1798)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S03cwGuw43s

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart(1756 – 1791)• Was competent on

keyboard and violin and composed at the age of five.• One of Viennese

Classicist.• Composed over 600

works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of genres.

Early Life• Father Leopold Mozart

was a musician and an experienced violin teacher.• Sister Nannerl was a

pianist and the family made several European journeys in which children performed as prodigies.

Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg, Austria

Employment at the Salzburg Court (1773 - 77)

• Was employed as a court musician by the ruler of Salzburg, Prince-Archibishop Colloredo.• Wrote five Violin Concertos.http

://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/violin-concerto-no-3-in-g-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/• Low salary and luck of occasion for opera

performances led to resignation.

The Paris Journey (1777 – 78), Vienna• Visited Augsburg, Mannheim, Paris, and Munich.• Settled in Vienna as a freelance performer and

composer.• Married Constanze Weber in 1782. Had six

children, two of whom survived infancy.• Became a Freemason in 1784.• Composed operas.• In 1787 obtained a part-time post of chamber

composer under aristocratic patronage of Emperor Joseph II.

Later Years

• Mozart’s financial circumstances worsened.• Composed last three symphonies and operas.• Became ill while in Prague for the premiere of his

opera “La clemenza di Tito”.• Was mentally occupied with the task of finishing

Requiem.• Watch segment 11:

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=722&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Vienna&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=#• The cause of Mozart’s death is uncertain.• Was buried in a common grave.

Major Compositions• Operas: • "Lucio Silla", “The Marriage of Figaro”, “Don Giovanni, “The

Magic Flute”, and others • Vocal: • Requiem, Oratories, and Cantatas

• For Orchestra: • Symphonies, Serenades, and Divertimentos

• Concertos For Different Instruments and Orchestra:• More that 30 for Piano and Orchestra• 5 for Violin and Orchestra• 4 for Horn and Orchestra

• Chamber Music: • 6 String Quintets, more that 20 String Quartets, more than 30

Sonatas for Violin and Piano, Trios, Variations, Minuets, Rondos, Fantasias, and many other works

Video Assignment

Please watch this video and take notes. You will be asked to reflect on Mozart’s life and legacy using this knowledge.

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=29999&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Wolfgang%20Amadeus%20Mozart&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=

Required Readings:• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad_opera• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opéra_comique• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart

Optional Video Assignments

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=42108&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Le%20Nozze%20di%20Figaro-From%20the%20Royal%20Opera%20House&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia8ceqIDSJw

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=11865&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=The%20Abduction%20from%20the%20Seraglio:%20Mozart%20in%20Turkey&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=#

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=722&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Vienna&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=#