Verdi and the Anthology of Italian Opera (AR/CU300)

Verdi and the Anthology of Italian Opera (AR/CU300)
Prof. Enrico Girardi
COURSE AIM
This course aims to introduce those students who already own a basic knowledge of music, to the history of
the Italian operatic tradition from the beginnings to the present.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
It is well known that musical drama as a genre got started in Italy. It also developed mostly in this Country
and from here was exported all over Europe during the XVII and XVIII Century, gradually inheriting features
that were most proper and unique of each nation.
While following the chronology of developments of the Opera composed on Italian lyrics, the course
proceeds through a progressive focus on each fundamental element of the musical language and
dramaturgy and a special attention to the acquisition and the critical awareness of a precise analytic method.
Therefore, while keeping a constant overview of the most general phenomenon, some masterpieces will be
deepened in a more analytic perspective.
The course requires constant attention and a critical reaction to all the music we hear, the text we read, the
videos we watch and the performances we attend. Therefore, attendance is required. The course-packet
readings should be read throughout the whole semester in order to gain an historic perspective of all the
topics covered.
Students will have the opportunity to deepen one musical topic of their choice by filling a research paper.
The teacher will inform students about the existing resources at local libraries, museums, archives.
Deadlines for submitting these personal works will be announced in class.
Short quizzes may be given periodically: these are primarily designed for my own benefit, to ensure that I am
teaching you clearly and cogently, but they also give you an idea of what is required of your examinations.
COURSE CONTENTS
 The Beginnings of Opera
 Analysis of Monteverdi’s opera L’incoronazione di Poppea
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 Italian opera in the 18 century
 Analysis of Händel’s opera Giulio Cesare
 Analysis of Mozart’s opera Le nozze di Figaro
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 Italian Opera in the first half of the 19 century
 Analysis of Rossini’s opera Il barbiere di Siviglia
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 Italian opera in the second half of the 19 century
 Analysis of Verdi’s opera Rigoletto
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 Italian opera in the 20 century
 Analysis Puccini’s opera Turandot
PREREQUISITES
Basic Musicianship
TEACHING METHOD
Lectures, DVD watching, Score Analysis and CD listening
CREDITS
3 US credits
GRADING
Personal Project – Paper
Attendance and Participation
Midterm test
Final exam
10 % of final grade
25 % of final grade
25 % of final grade
40 % of final grade
Detailed syllabi will be submitted upon beginning of class or upon request
(send to [email protected])
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Verdi and the Anthology of Italian Opera (AR/CU300)
Prof. Enrico Girardi
COURSE READINGS AND MATERIALS
Course packet (mostly extracted from):
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Donald Jay Grout, A short History of Opera;
Joseph Kerman, Opera as Drama
Librettos and synopsis given by the instructor
Enrico Girardi, Guida all’ascolto dell’Opera
REQUIRED READINGS
A. D.J.Grout, A Short History of Opera, Columbia University Press, NY 1988.
B. J. Kerman, Opera as Drama, Regents of the University of California, LA 1988.
C. P. Smith, A Historical Study of the Opera Libretto, Schirmer, NY 1970.
D. R. Parker, The Oxford Illustrated History of Opera, Oxford, 1994.
E. R.L.Crocker, A history of Musical Style, Dover, NY 1966 (1986)
F. P. Weiss – R. Taruskin, Music in the Western World. A History in Documents, Schirmer, NY 1984.
Detailed syllabi will be submitted upon beginning of class or upon request
(send to [email protected])
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