This presentation explores basic information about opera. It briefly presents its history and evolution. It also presents a brief sample of the six major opera voices (three male and three female). This presentation was used in the backdrop to an oral presentation of the topic in an undergraduate class on Music History and as such it does not go into much detail on the slides. However, it may be useful for general knowledge and for persons seeking points of reference on the topic.

1. Opera
The Art of Emotions
By: Anndiva Mandley
& Carol Williams
July 1, 2014

2. What is Opera?
 Opera is a total art form which combines several expressive
media;
-Music
-Singing
-Drama
-Poetry
-Art (Staging)
-Sometimes Dance
 This complex combination makes an opera performance an
extraordinary show, where all human passions are at work.

3. Main Parts of an Opera
The Libretto- (“Little Book”) – The ‘script’ of an opera
 The Singing- The emotional and intense text sung by the actors
 The Music- Addresses the audience’s heart
 The Staging- Visual interpretation of the work

4. Historical Development of Opera
17TH CENTURY-BAROQUE PERIOD
Born in Italy around the late 16th century
A revival of what was thought to be the simplicity of tragedy
First major opera still performed today La favola d’Orfeo (The Legend of Orpheus); by Monteverdi
in 1607
Small instrumental accompaniment punctuated by musical interludes (Music subservient to
words)
First commercial opera house opened in Venice in 1637
Opera soon spread throughout Europe

5. Historical development of Opera
BEL CANTO AND CLASSICAL REFORM
Two forms of opera developed in the 18th Century:
- Opera Seria (Serious Opera)
- Opera Buffa (Comic Opera)
Move from highlighting words to highlighting singing
-Bel Canto (Beautiful Singing)
Singing served the dramatic idea not the reverse
Use of choruses and ensembles to stress the collective nature of human
emotions

6. Historical development of Opera
THE 19TH CENTURY
Different traditions developed in different countries
Mix of serious and comical traits
Subjects drawn from contemporary life and recent history
The orchestra became part of the story

7. Historical development of Opera
THE 20TH CENTURY: THE RISE OF INDIVIDUALS
Individual works rather than general trends appeared
Kurt Weill- (German born, American composer) inspired by jazz and other
jazz and other popular music
Benjamin Britten- (English composer) composed ‘traditional’ operas and
operas and chamber operas

8. Historical development of Opera
OPERA TODAY
Operas today more varied than ever
Staging and setting have become key elements
New contemporary operatic themes
Great pieces are being reinterpreted and still successful

9. Famous Composers of the Eras
ERA COMPOSER NATIONALITY PIECE
Claudio Monteverdi Italian L'Orfeo
George Frideric Handel German Agrippina
Christoph Willibald Gluck German Iphigénie en Tauride
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Salzberg (Austria/Germany) Don Giovanni
Giuseppe Verdi Italian Rigoletto
Wilhelm Richard Wagner German Tristan and Isolde
George Gershwin American Porgy and Bess
Kurt Weill German Der Jasager
Baroque
Classical
Romantic
20th Century

10. Categories of Opera
Voices

11. Main Categories of Opera Voices
SOPRANO:
Highest feminine voice, that of
the biggest roles of the
repertoire.
Tragic or mythical heroines, but
also maids, and other amusing
characters

12. Main Categories of Opera Voices
MEZZO-SOPRANO:
Italian for ‘medium’ soprano, it is the
second highest female voice.
With a deeper and warmer voice than
the sopranos, the mezzo-soprano
usually plays a secondary character
such as a mature woman, child-minder,
witch, temptress or even young boy - in
a nutshell, ‘witches, bitches and
breeches’.

13. Main Categories of Opera Voices
CONTRALTO:
Dark, low, noble female
voice. Quite rare in opera.
It is often associated with
characters such as an elderly
woman, maid, mother,
grandmother or witch

14. Main Categories of Opera Voices
TENOR:
The highest pitch of men
singing in chest voice, and the
most popular in opera.
Tenor roles are parallel to
soprano roles: the hero, the
lover, and sometimes the
enemy.

15. Main Categories of Opera Voices
BARITONE:
Half-low male voice
Associated with a great variety
of characters in the 18th
century, and more particularly
with the enemy roles in the
19th century

16. Main Categories of Opera Voices
BASS:
Lowest male voice
Often associated with roles of
wise men, older men, and
sometimes funny characters

17. THANK
YOU!
Anndiva Mandley
&
Carol Williams