1.  NONE today because of the shortened class  (I want to make sure we get through all the notes.)

2. Opera: Rossini & Wagner

3.  The perfect synthesis of all the arts – we’ll talk more specifically about dance and drama next week  Three countries dominated with opera: France, Italy, and Germany  Opera enjoyed great popularity among the rising and influential middle classes

4.  Bel canto: beauty of sound  Rossini epitomizes bel canto opera  The Barber of Seville takes melodic singing to new heights with light, ornamented and highly appealing vocal lines

5.  Based on Beaumarchais’s comedy  The prequel to the Marriage of Figaro  Premiered in 1816  Premiered in New York in 1825

6.  Starts with Figaro – the Barber of Seville  Prequel to the Marriage of Figaro  He meets the Count for the first time, helps him win over Rosina (the future countess), who was engaged to Dr. Bartolo.

7.  The Looney Tunes Adaptation (DVD) The Looney Tunes Adaptation  Same music – much different story  Elmer Fudd chases Bugs Bunny into a theater that is performing the Barber of Seville  They end up on stage, and create their own opera based on the scenery and orchestra  The music is VERY recognizable! It’s currently used in a Doritoes commercial

8.  1813-1883, German  Master of Romantic opera  Drew heavily from German mythology  Music has the predominant role in Wagner’s operas

9.  Famous for leitmotifs  Leitmotif: a melody or theme that is tied to an idea, a person, or an object  Whenever that idea, person, or object appears on stage or comes to mind in the action, that theme is heard

10.  Leitmotifs are used today in movies  Example: Spiderman 3Spiderman 3  Hero Theme  Venom’s Theme  Sandman’s Theme  Hero Reprise  Can you name some other Leitmotifs??  Tomorrow’s Project: selecting leitmotifs for characters

11.  Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) is a cycle of 4 epic operas  Often referred to as the Ring Cycle, or simply The Ring  Took 26 years to write, 1848-1874  The 4 operas are: The Rhine Gold, The Valkyrie, Siegfried, & Twilight of the Gods

12.  The plot is similar to that of the Lord of the Rings (drew from the same source material)  Revolves around a magic ring that grants the power to rule the world

13.  Takes 18 hours to perform  Most opera companies will do a part of it at a time  Most famous piece: the Ride of the ValkyriesRide of the Valkyries  What is a Valkyrie? “chooser of the slain” – the Valkyrie’s bring their chosen to the afterlife

14.  A Looney Tunes cartoon based on the music of Wagner’s Ring Cycle  Elmer Fudd is the ‘valkyrie’  The Magic Helmet is ‘the ring’  What's Opera, Doc? - http://www.spike.com/video- clips/i8ftl4/whats-opera-doc What's Opera, Doc?http://www.spike.com/video- clips/i8ftl4/whats-opera-doc

15.  Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2  Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2  Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet  Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture  Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain  Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique March to the Scaffold  Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony” New  Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries  Rossini’s Barber of Seville http://nohsbands.weebly.com Hover over “More” then “Arts & Humanities” then CLICK “The Romantic Period” All listening examples are there. (Make sure it starts at the right time – it’s listed next to the example on the webpage.)

16.  http://nohsbands.weebly.com http://nohsbands.weebly.com