Romantic Opera

Flourished in Europe: Germany, France, Italy, Bohemia, and Russia Themes:

Transcendence of artistic barriers Combining music with poetry and other literature; also philosophy Music celebrated as most profound of all arts

Early Romantic Opera

Start in the 1820s Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868):
Bel canto opera glorified beautiful singing (translates to beautiful song) Provided models of emotional melodic expression

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848):

Dominated Italian bel canto after Rossini retired in 1830 Simple, sentimental arias and action music Famous works: Lucia di Lammermoor, Don Pasquale, Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, and Roberto Devereux

Early Romantic Opera cont.

Vincenzo Bellini
Considered most refined of bel canto composers Admired greatly by Giuseppe Verdi

Carl Maria Von Weber

Founder of German Romantic Opera Der Freischutz: characteristics of German romantic opera
supernatural subject matter Strongly moral overtone Emphasis on orchestra

Giuseppe Verdi
Sent to Milan to study music by Antonio Barezzi, a local merchant and second father to Verdi First success was nabucco, and after this he wrote numerous plays performed in Milan, Paris, Italy and London Greatest works: Rigoletto, Il trovatore, and La triviata Supporter of Risorgimento: Italian liberation movement (many operas reflected patriotic views) Idolized Rossini After 15 years of being retired, he wrote two of his greatest operas with Arrigo Boito: Otello and Falstaff

Recitative and Aria: the Orchestra

Orchestra plays a much richer role in Verdis operas than those of his Italian predecessors Declamation or recitative methods had previously been used for action and dialogue, while melody (arias) was used for reflective and emotional expression. These had been separated in Italian opera, but now plot action and dialogue were always accompanied by a full orchestra Verdi also uses rich harmonies under melodic high points and climaxes, also a very romantic idea

Richard Wagner
Most influential of 19th century composers after Beethoven; revolutionized instrumental music in addition to opera Born during the Napoleonic wars, he soon became a decided intellectual Exiled from Germany for his involvement in the revolution of 1848, which lasted 13 years Wrote many works and operas, some anti-Semitic and used by the Nazis After exile, he gained support of king Ludwig II of Bavaria and got his music dramas produced at last

Wagner
Wagner produced the building of an opera house in Bayreuth dedicated solely to his works (slowmoving and grandiose, based on myths and characterized by poetry he wrote, powerful orchestral style and the use of leitmotivs, which were guiding or leading motives). Still only plays Wagner He had a hypnotic personality and is described as Half con man and half visionary, bad poet and very good musician

Wagners works/ideas
The Total Work of Art: Gesamtkunstwerk
Concept of new kind of opera called music drama, in which music shares the honors with poetry, drama, and philosophy along with stage design and acting Music is closely matched with words, as both are so important to this concept Emotional and intense, as with all romantic styles Deal with weighty philosophical issues under symbolic cover of medieval German myths and legend Myths as embodiments of the deepest unconscious truths

Leitmotivs
Musical motive that guides the listener through the story By transforming motives, one could show a person or idea developing and changing under the impact of dramatic action Could state or suggest ideas in emotional terms, over mere words