Opera Scenes

Order Description
For this assignment you are to watch 3 scenes from operas – 1 each from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods. I’ve done my best to find standard performances
of each opera (stagings are fairly traditional). For each scene answer the following questions (you can keep your answers quite short):

Focus first on the orchestra: What timbres (strings, woodwinds, etc.) do you hear/see? Do any timbres “stick out” from the orchestra? Does the overall sound feel
thin/small or thick/large?
Is the overture short or medium/long in length?
Next focus on the singing: How clear are the voices? That is, do the singers seem focused on the words or on their vocal virtuosity?
How is the flow of the singing and the story (the first two have English subtitles and a short synopsis of each scene is provided) – does it seem smooth or stilted?
Does the pacing of the story seem slow or okay – e.g. would it put you to sleep or keep your interest?
Finally, make 2 judgments: Of the 3, which appeals to you a) the most? why? b) the least? why?

Opera A: Monteverdi L’Orfeo (Baroque Opera)

Here is the synopsis (of sorts) – L’Orfeo is based on the Greek legend of Orpheus, who descends to Hades to attempt to bring his dead bride Eurydice back to the living
world:

In a prologue the figure of Music introduces the piece, a demonstration of the power of music. Orpheus and Eurydice are at last to marry, an event celebrated in dance
and song by the shepherd company. The celebration of the happiness of Orpheus continues (only to be interrupted soon by the appearance of the messenger Sylvia, who
breaks the news of the death of Eurydice).

Prologue

The allegorical figure of Music (La Musica) announces the story to be narrated.

Act I

Nymphs and shepherds sing and dance in anticipation of the wedding of Orpheus and Eurydice, who each declare their joy. Eurydice and others depart.

Act II

Orpheus stays behind with a few companions and sings to them of the pains and pleasures of his courtship. But a nymph returns with tragic news: Eurydice has been
bitten by a snake and is dead. All are struck with horror by the messenger’s tortured account. Orpheus declares his intent to follow Eurydice to the Underworld. The
others lament the cruel turn of events.

– See more at: https://www.aam.co.uk/#/Explore/Blog/Orpheus-synopsis.aspx
The allegorical figure of Music (La Musica) announces the story to be narrated.

Act I

Nymphs and shepherds sing and dance in anticipation of the wedding of Orpheus and Eurydice, who each declare their joy. Eurydice and others depart.

Act II

Orpheus stays behind with a few companions and sings to them of the pains and pleasures of his courtship. But a nymph returns with tragic news: Eurydice has been
bitten by a snake and is dead. All are struck with horror by the messenger’s tortured account. Orpheus declares his intent to follow Eurydice to the Underworld. The
others lament the cruel turn of events.

– See more at: https://www.aam.co.uk/#/Explore/Blog/Orpheus-synopsis.aspx
The allegorical figure of Music (La Musica) announces the story to be narrated.

Act I

Nymphs and shepherds sing and dance in anticipation of the wedding of Orpheus and Eurydice, who each declare their joy. Eurydice and others depart.

Act II

Orpheus stays behind with a few companions and sings to them of the pains and pleasures of his courtship. But a nymph returns with tragic news: Eurydice has been
bitten by a snake and is dead. All are struck with horror by the messenger’s tortured account. Orpheus declares his intent to follow Eurydice to the Underworld. The
others lament the cruel turn of events.

– See more at: https://www.aam.co.uk/#/Explore/Blog/Orpheus-synopsis.aspx
You need only listen/watch to 22:30 (Sylvia actually doesn’t appear until about 29:00, feel free to skip ahead to hear her entrance and pronouncement).

Nikolaus Harnoncourt/Monteverdi Ensemble, Zurich Opera (Links to an external site.)
Opera B: Mozart Cosi fan Tutte (Classical Opera)

Here is the synopsis:

Naples, late 18th century. Two young officers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, boast about the beauty and virtue of their girls, the sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella. Their
older friend, the cynical Don Alfonso, declares that a woman’s constancy is like the phoenix—everyone talks about it but no one has ever seen it. He proposes a wager
of one hundred sequins: if they’ll give him one day and do everything he asks, he will prove to them that the sisters are unfaithful, like all other women. Amused, the
young men agree. Separately, Fiordiligi and Dorabella think of their lovers, imagining that they will soon be married.

For this opera you need only listen/watch to 17:35. You may need to click on the “CC” symbol for closed captioning in order to see the subtitles.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt/Vienna State Opera (Links to an external site.)
Opera C: Bizet Carmen (Romantic Opera)

You may need to select the subtitles in the settings. Here is the synopsis:

Spain. In Seville by a cigarette factory, soldiers comment on the townspeople. Among them is Micaëla, a peasant girl, who asks for a corporal named Don José. Moralès,
another corporal, tells her he will return with the changing of the guard. The relief guard, headed by Lieutenant Zuniga, soon arrives, and José learns from Moralès
that Micaëla has been looking for him. When the factory bell rings, the men of Seville gather to watch the female workers—especially their favorite, the gypsy Carmen.
She tells her admirers that love is free and obeys no rules. Only one man pays no attention to her: Don José. [You can guess where this story is going! And yes, it
goes there!]

You can start at 2:13 (the first 2 minutes are silent) and stop listening/watching at 24:50. Sorry for the sound quality but it’s the best one with English subtitles
and without an advertisement at the beginning.

Myron Michailidis/Taormina Opera Festival 2015 (Links to an external site.)