OPERA

Definition A dramatic work set for singers and instrumentalists in one or more acts The work is all sung. There is no spoken dialogue It consists of a staged plot, with costumes, and sets, and then a pit orchestra

Terms of the day OPERA- a dramatic work in one or more acts set for singers and instrumentalists LIBRETTO- the text set to a piece of extended musical work such as an opera, or musical, or mass. RECITATIVE- sung dialogue ARIA- a solo that a lead sings in which expresses emotion about a situation SCORE- the written down music of the entire works OVERTURE- The instrumental piece at the beginning

Voice Types WOMEN SOPRANO- coloratura- Queen of the Night Spinto- Vissi D’arte Dramatic- Ride of the Valkryes MEZZO SOPRANO- Mon coeur Castrati- male CONTRALTO- Marian Anderson- He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

Voice types MEN Tenor- Nessum Dorma from Turandot Baritone- Madamina from Don Giovanni Bass- O Isis and Osiris I’m a Lonely man, Susannah

Lesson 2: CARMEN A French opera that is set in Spain, however, it is sung in French It consists of four acts It is an opera about gypsies

Composer Georges Bizet- a french composer who wrote the opera The opera premiered on March 3 rd, 1875 in Paris Bizet was born October 25 th, 1838 And died on June 3rd, 1875 a sudden death

Librettists Henri Melihac and Ludovic Halevy Writers of the WORDS of the opera

Plot ACT I- Takes place in Seville Micaela, a young peasant girl in love with Don Jose questions soldiers about her love The soldiers convince her to stay with Don Jose, but she leaves Don Jose arrives at the cigarette factory and a beautiful gypsy, as well as other women leave the building Carmen seduces with Don Jose by tossing a flower in front of him Micaela returns with a letter and kiss sent to Don Jose from his mother which asks Don Jose to marry Micaela. Don promises to love Micaela However, moments later in the cigarette factory, a fight breaks out with Carmen and another woman. Carmen then is sent to be escorted by Don Jose to prison, yet Carmen charms Don Jose into letting her escape. Don Jose is then thrown into jail for a month after getting caught for letting her go.

Plot (continued) Act II Carmen and some friends, including Officer Zuniga, who had wanted her in prison, are all socializing at Lilas Pastia’s Inn, when Escamillo (the victorious bullfighter) bursts in and tries to capture Carmen’s heart Officer Zuniga tells Carmen he will return to the Inn for her, but Carmen is eagerly awaiting Don Jose’s release from prison Later on, some smugglers ask Carmen and her friends for help, but Carmen refuses because she is awaiting Don Jose’s return. When he returns, she dances for him. Then, a bugle is sounded in the distance to Don to return home. Carmen tries to convince him to stay and live the gyspy life. He finally gives in when officer Zuniga returns for her Zuniga tries to get Don Jose to leave

Plot (continued) Act III At this point, Carmen has become bored with Don Jose, and tells him that he should go back to his mother Carmen’s friends Frasquita and Mercedes read fortunes for amusement from cards. Carmen joins in, and they discover that they are reading the fortune of Carmen and Don Jose’s death Don Jose is placed on guard duty, and Micaela enters, determined to rescue Don Jose from Carmen. She suddenly hears a gunshot and hides, which turns out to be Don Jose shooting at Escamillo, who is intruding. Escamillo declares his feelings for Carmen, and they start to fight. They are then interrupted by women and smugglers passing by, and Escamillo invites everyone to his next bullfight. Micaela is discovered and convinces Don Jose to leave with her after telling him and his mother is dying

Carmen A gypsy girl- who is a mezzo soprano

Don Jose Coporal of Dragons- a tenor (high male voice)

Escamillo The Toreador- bass-baritone (medium low male voice)

Micaela A village Maiden- soprano

Zuniga Lieutenant of dragons- bass

Lesson 3 Let’s watch act 4!