1. Chapter Seventeen: Classical Genres: Vocal Music

2. Vocal Music: Classical Opera Rise of opera buffa (comic opera) – Realistic characters – Recitative and aria – Moves smoothly between styles – Rapid changes in mood Use of vocal ensembles – Multiple characters often sing simultaneously – Each character responds to the dramatic action – Ensemble often closes a scene or act – Typifies the more democratic spirit of the late 18 th - century

3. Mozart and Opera Master of Classical opera Wrote Italian opera seria, modern opera buffa, and German Singspiel – Singspiel: Spoken dialogue and songs [Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (1791)] Created a new kind of opera that mixed serious and comic elements to powerful effects – Le nozze di Figaro (1786) – Don Giovanni (1787)

4. Mozart: Don Giovanni (1787), K. 527 Story of Don Juan Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte Critical of the aristocracy Overture: – Sonata-allegro form with a slow introduction that incorporates several themes or motives important later in the opera