This course gives us an introduction to Italian Opera right from its very beginning in Florence, Italy.
You will understand how Mozart’s opera is the midpoint of opera. It explores how music tells the audience about the characters' thoughts through musical gestures. It also sheds light on the importance of close listening to understand opera thoroughly.
This module utilizes Mozart’s opera Le Nozze di Figaro to explore opera and close listening in detail.
Discussion - Previous Opera Experiences•20 minutes
Discussion - Figaro, Acts I and II•20 minutes
Discussion - Minuet and Contredanse Examples•20 minutes
Discussion - Strategies for Close Listening•20 minutes
Discussion Week 1 - Opera Tuning Activity•30 minutes
Discussion Week 1 - Opera Learning Reflection•20 minutes
Act I, Scene 2 (Week 2) - Italian opera before Mozart
Module 2•6 hours to complete
Module details
This module introduces you to the origin of opera. It also utilizes Monteverdi's L’Orfeo to distinguish different styles in opera from one era to another.
Act I, Scene 2 (Week 2) - Italian Opera Before Mozart•30 minutes
Word Cloud: Castrati•5 minutes
6 assignments•Total 69 minutes
Act I, Scene 2 (Week 2) - Italian opera before Mozart•30 minutes
Castrati•8 minutes
Opera seria•8 minutes
Opera buffa•8 minutes
Christoph Willibald Gluck•10 minutes
Opera Learning Reflection - Week 2•5 minutes
8 discussion prompts•Total 160 minutes
Discussion: General•10 minutes
Discussion - Looking at the past•20 minutes
Discussion - Handel and Opera seria•20 minutes
Discussion - Opera buffa and Opera seria•20 minutes
Discussion - Che faro senza Euridice•20 minutes
Discussion - Revisiting Our Metaphor•20 minutes
Discussion Week 2 - Opera Tuning Activity•30 minutes
Discussion- Opera Learning Reflection•20 minutes
Act I, Scene 3 (Week 3) - Conventions in Italian opera
Module 3•5 hours to complete
Module details
This module discusses the purpose of specific operatic conventions in the overture, arias, recitative, finales, choruses, cantabile-cabaletta, and instrumental interludes. It also utilizes various approaches on how music conveys the drama.
Act II, Scene 1 (Week 4) - The bel canto era•30 minutes
Opera Learning Reflection - Week 4•5 minutes
9 discussion prompts•Total 180 minutes
Discussion: Week 4 - General•20 minutes
Week 4 Discussion - Opera - Il barbiere di Siviglia•20 minutes
Week 4 Discussion - Opera - Norma•20 minutes
Week 4 Discussion - Opera - I Puritani•20 minutes
Week 4 Discussion - Opera - L’elisir d’amore•20 minutes
Week 4 Discussion - Opera - Lucia di Lammermoor•20 minutes
Week 4 Discussion - Opera - La Cenerentola•20 minutes
Week 4 Discussion - other bel canto operas•20 minutes
Week 4 - Opera Learning Reflection•20 minutes
Act II, Scene 2 (Week 5) - Verdi
Module 5•5 hours to complete
Module details
This module discusses the contribution of Giuseppi Verdi in the bel canto era. It also gives you an understanding of Verdi’s influence from Rossini’s work.
Week 5 Discussion - Opera - Il Trovatore•20 minutes
Week 5 Discussion: Opera - Rigoletto•20 minutes
Week 5 Discussion: Opera - Aida•20 minutes
Week 5 Discussion: Opera - Falstaff•20 minutes
Week 5 Discussion: Opera - Otello•20 minutes
Week 5 Opera: Other Verdi operas•20 minutes
Week 5 - Opera Learning Reflection•20 minutes
Act II, Scene 3 (Week 6) - Puccini and his contemporaries
Module 6•5 hours to complete
Module details
This module discusses how Puccini and his contemporaries challenge history and conventions in Italian opera. It also discusses his presence in the regular repertoire of Italian opera.
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