1. G.F. Handel, Opera Seria, the Da Capo Aria
History of Opera
G.F. Handel, Opera Seria, the Da Capo Aria

2. Key Terms
Opera Seria
Da Capo Aria
Ornamentation
Melismas
Diva

3. Opera AT midcentury
Flourishes in Venice, Italy, within the city’s many opera houses
Spreads to Naples, Milan, and Florence
Opera is a public genre
Public is fascinated by two elements:
The singers
The arias

4. The Prima Donna Ca. 1650 women gain recognition as opera singers
Anna Renzi, leading lady of the Venetian stage
Singers gain renown, rise in popularity
Diva
Public idolizes these figures—press attention
When a singer gains renown, she can start to demand that composers and librettists start writing roles to suit her specific abilities

5. Virtuosic Abilities Sopranos were the most revered kind of singers
Especially those capable of singing fast, ornamented, melismatic passages
Ornamented: embellished melodic lines
Melismatic (Melisma): singing multiple notes on one word
Audiences become less interested in operatic plots
More concerned with their favorite stars and the new arias they are singing

6. Melismas
“Se bramate” from Serse by Handel

7. Changes to the Aria
As composers wished to showcase opera singers’ abilities, a new convention emerged
The Da Capo Aria became the new standard of aria composition around 1700
Da Capo: “the top”
Three-part form:
A: main emotion is presented though a melody. Small amount of text, usually repeated multiple times.
B: contrasting emotion is presented though a contrasting melody. New text.
A’: return of A section, only the vocal line is highly embellished

8. Ornaments/Ornamentation
Ornamented line (sung when the section of the aria is repeated)
“Affanni del pensier” by Handel
Original line

9. Da Capo Aria Se bramate d’amar
From Serse by GF Handel
A section: Se bramate d’amar, chi vi sdegna voù sdegnarvi, a come non so.
B section: La vostra ira crudel me l’insegna, tento farlo, e quest’alma non può.
A’: same text as A, but with ornaments

10. Opera Seria
The Da Capo Aria became an important element of opera seria
Most popular/renowned genre of opera of the late 1600s-early 1700s
Italian
Serious plots concerning historical figures or mythological beings (sometimes both)
3 acts
Act 1: Longest, introduce main characters, introduce plot
Act 2: The plot thickens! How will it ever resolve?
Act 3: Resolve conflict, end happily. Shortest act.
Strict alternation between recitative and aria
Sopranos and castrati sing the best roles

11. G. F. Handel Born in Germany (1685-1759)
Premiered his first opera at age 19
Completed his education in Italy
Learned how to write Italian opera seria
Moved to London
Began composing operas for the Royal Academy ( )
5-6 opera world premiers per season
Compositional style blended Italian, German, and French conventions
Composed with the public in mind
Very popular

12. Handel’s Conventions Two types of recitative:
Simple recitative: little orchestral accompaniment
Accompanied recitative: full orchestration beneath vocal line
Handel interweaves aria, recitative, and arioso (which at this point are just shorter arias) in his scenes, reminiscent of Monteverdi
Instrumental interludes to mark important plot moments: battles, ceremonies, incantations
Larger orchestras
No ensembles or choruses larger than a duet

13. The End of Handel’s operatic Era
Royal Academy dissolves by 1729
Stressed financially by singers’ rising salaries
Rise of English opera
The English did not like castrati and wanted operas written in their own language
Handel focuses on another genre: the sacred oratorio
Messiah, for example
Handel’s later operas do not match the success of his earlier works

14. Next Time
Opera moves to France!
Jean-Baptiste Lully and French opera