Carmen, the magic flute, the ring cycle, and many more!  Opera! Carmen, the magic flute, the ring cycle, and many more! 

Origins of opera The libretto (book that contains the music and text) was by Ottavio Rinuccini, who reused some of the material in the first opera Dafne in 1597. The art form known as opera originated in Italy in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, though it drew upon older traditions of medieval and Renaissance courtly entertainment. The first opera ever written was performed in 1597 in Florence in Italy. It was called Dafne and the composer was Jacopo Peri. This opera is now lost, but three years later, in 1600, he worked together with another composer called Giulio Caccini to write an opera called Euridice.

Opera Lingo Do #s 1- 6 on own, with key at the bottom Help fill in missing terms with definitions in #s 7 - 12

Carmen by Georges Bizet Read “The Story of Carmen” together and HIGHLIGHT important notes! Answer questions (bottom of sheet) on the back of the worksheet Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd0FNpiBDyA Overture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpUJ4-qqV-I Answer these questions while listening: What instruments do you hear? What images come to mind when you hear this music? Fill out story chart for Carmen now

The Magic Flute by W.A. Mozart Overture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Gedb05J5M (^Freeze or blank screen, no cheating with instruments! No picture) Answer these questions: What instruments do you hear? What images come to mind when you hear this music? Fill out story chart for “Magic Flute” now

Create your own opera! Step 1: Groups of 3-4 Step 2: Make a basic plot for your opera love story, comedy, or tragedy Step 3: Create 4 characters (soprano, mezzo or alto, tenor, and bass) Step 4: When and where does this take place? Step 5: Write one recitative for the characters to sing this is normal dialogue, only it is sung with inflexion!!! Step 6: Write 2 scenes from this opera that will be performed by group Step 7: Give the opera a title and present the recitative and the scenes for the class! 

Wagner’s Ring Cycle Total opera is 4 acts…and about 10 HOURS LONG!!!!!!!!!!! :o 1. Das Rheingold: "Rhinegold" The first act of this first opera begins with a scene in which a dwarf named Alberich seizes the gold of the Rhinemaidens. Alberich denounces love in order to gain possession of the magic ring which gives its wearer ultimate power. This scene sets up the Ring as the most desireable object in the world, and thus it establishes the fundamental intrigue that lasts throughout the entire cycle of the Ring. Rhinegold is the story of the gods, possibly more so than the rest of the operas. One learns of the suffering of Wotan and the problems the gods have in repaying Fafner and Fasolt, the giants who built Valhalla. Since Wagner created Rhinegold to be the "Prelude" to the Ring, this opera perhaps is not as "free-standing" as the other works. Nevertheless, Rhinegold introduces "the main lines of The Ring's dramatic conflict" and "many of the cycle's main musical ideas" (Blyth, 29). 2. Die Walkure: "The Valkyries" Brunnhilde and her father Wotan respectively struggle with their pride in order to decide the ultimate destiny of mortals. The Valkyries deals with the deep, but difficult relationship between gods and mortals. These gods also play games with one another, picking favorites and taking sides. Nobleness, especially in love, seems to come second to oaths--the divine promises--of the gods. Siegmund, the mortal hero, essentially dies because his father, Wotan, is under obligation to obey his lawful wife, Fricka. *Listen to Ride of the Valkyries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGU1P6lBW6Q

3. Siegfried "Siegfried is often called the Scherzo of The Ring, suggesting that it is the lightest of the four dramas..." (Blyth, 83). It is the story of a hero, Siegfried, and how he grows into manhood to discover fear and love. Raised by the Nibelung Mime, Siegfried is young, innocent and cocky. With the help of a mysterious Wanderer (who is really Wotan in disguise), Siegfried finds the pieces of his father's sword, Notung, reforges them and uses the instrument to kill the dragon Fafner who guards the hoard of Nibelung gold that formerly belonged to the Rhinemaidens. As a result of his killing of Fafner, Siegfried comes into possession of Alberich's cursed ring. But, Siegfried faces his ultimate challenge when he follows a birdsong to find the sleeping Brunnhilde whom fate has destined Siegfried to awaken and fall in love with. At the end of the opera, Siegfried gives the Ring to Brunnhilde to prove and symbolize his oath of love and fidelity to her. 4. Gotterdammerung: "The Twilight of the Gods" An ambiance of doom overabides The Twilight of the Gods. Wotan and the rest of the cycle's characters face the consequences of the choices they made throughout the stories of the first three operas. As predicted by the three Norns in the "Prelude" to this opera, the Nibelung Alberich's curse upon the Ring proves to be prophetic. Everyone who comes into possession of it is ultimately destroyed. Although Wotan's disempowerment was foreshadowed in Siegfried by the breaking of his spear by Siegfried, the doomed fate of the gods and their All-Father Wotan is sealed when Alberich's evil son, Hagen dupes and cruelly murders the brave mortal hero Siegfried. Thus, The Twilight of the Gods , which is "a panorama of love and betrayal, good and evil, subconscious and overt events, grand, pictorial and private, intimate scenes" is "the climax of the whole Ring cycle" and "shows Wagner at zenith of his powers" (Blyth, 115).

You get to be the critic! Listen to and watch these performances of the “Queen of the Night Aria” from The Magic Flute Describe each performance: singing, costume, makeup, set design, emotion, performance overall, etc! Which was “better” in your eyes and WHY? Be ready to explain!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpVV9jShEzU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZcaf9GfyWs *Begin end of 9 weeks review project (other PPT)