Learning objectives
At the end of the course students will know the historical lines of Italian musical drama and its forms (Knowledge and understanding); they will be able to identify the lyric numbers contained in an Italian libretto written between the Seventeenth to Nineteenth century and distinguish the sections in which they were conventionally divided (Applying knowledge and understanding). They will also examine the critical texts, to identify the hierarchy of the topics discussed and identify further questions relevant to the advancement of knowledge (Making judgements). They will also be able to express the content of the discipline with specific language and technical competence, at least with regard to poetic, narrative, linguistic and formal structures. Even without requiring analytical skills and techniques in the field of music, however, it is necessary to acquire at least the main terms to describe the music that has been listened (Communication skills). The students will also be able to investigate the sources of opera, even those not presented in the class, in order to identify the specific traits useful for forthcoming studies (Learning skills).
Prerequisites
Knowledge of the essentials of the history of Italian literature and the basis of Italian metrics and poetic. No specific technical knowledge in the music field is required.
Course unit content
The course introduces students to the historical profile of opera from XVII to XIX century; it provides also the keys and technical skills necessary to understand the poetics of the main composers and the role of music in the theater in different times and genres.
The course proposes the study of the strategies available to the theater music. We will examine the poetic structures of the libretto, musical forms that set it, the techniques that adapt pre-existing texts to musical theater, the forms of expression of dramatized human passion.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Gloria Staffieri, “Un teatro tutto cantato. Introduzione all’opera italiana”, Roma, Carocci, 2013
Lorenzo Bianconi , “Il teatro d’opera in Italia”, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1993, pp. 47-96 (Profilo storico dei modelli drammatico musicali)
Further texts subject to verification will be defined after the first week of lessons based on the composition of the classroom.
A practical dictionary of the operatic terms is: “Le parole del teatro musicale”, edited by Fabrizio Della Seta, Rome, Carocci, 2010 (this text will NOT be examined, but you can use it for a better understanding the technical terms you will encounter in study program texts)
Non-attending students must follow the Blended course on the Elly-Blended platform.
Teaching methods
The course will be organized with lectures and group discussions of the operas presented in the class. The course makes use of materials gradually deposited on the Elly platform, as well as the online course - also reachable in the Ellly / Blended platform. During the lessons you will learn the terminology for a brief analytical description of the listening experiences.
Assessment methods and criteria
The test will consist of an oral interview at the end of the course according to the official calendar appointed by the Department. I requires depth study of the texts of the bibliography, that will be indicated during the course and announced in the website, and at least of two of the operas presented in the lessons that will be also indicated during the course. It will be required depth knowledge at least of the libretto, its organization and the structure of each lyrical number. The interview will test the understanding of the approach and content of each text listed in the bibliography; will test on the librettos of operas the ability of the students to orient themselves in the dramatic structures of at least one act of the operas indicated: it will be therefore necessary that students listen to them several times while they read the libretto. The lack of knowledge of the operas indicated and the lack of understanding of the minimum content of the course are cause for failure of the verification. The ability to express oneself adequately, to solve problems related to information retrieval and the decoding of complex texts, as well as the ability to make independent judgments will be evaluated on a scale of thirty degrees.
The ability to develop further knowledge and to ask the teacher pertinent questions, even during the test, will enable excellent results. Likewise, the ability of integrated readings and cross-connections between the texts listed in the bibliography will enable excellent results.
Other information
Audio and video media and computer on-line will be available.
