MUSI 1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Lyric Soprano, Prima Donna, Giacomo Puccini
25 May 2016
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Emphasizes beautiful vocal melodies: little or no counterpoint, orchestra provides simple harmonic support (like a big guitar) Exalted the leading operatic singers: lyric soprano normally played the heroine, called the prima donna or diva (goddess) Perfectly exemplified in the operas of donizetti, bellini, and rossini. Strongly influenced the compositional style of verdi and puccini. Reputation: during his career, he was the most popular opera composer throughout europe, his operas are still performed more often than those by any other composer. Career: first opera was oberto (1839, early operas (1840s) Many based on dramatic subjects supporting political revolution and freedom. His name served as a political slogan. Middle operas (early and mid-1850s: dramas turned to domestic themes and personal conflict, some of his most famous compositions. Il trovatore (1853: later referred to this period as my years as a galley slave . Late operas (late 1850s-1893: now very wealthy, only composed for select reasons.
