I have something of a love hate relationship with opera. The opera excerpts that have made it into ‘popular’ culture, e.g. Bizet’s Habanera from Carmen or Puccini’s Nessun Dorma from Turandot, I find fantastic.
I am in absolutely no doubt about the emotional power of opera, and of the combination of the orchestra, human voice and onstage drama to deliver something almost transcendental. But…
It’s just the singing. The warbling by the sopranos. The wholy unnatural style of opera singing. It takes some getting used to. Perhaps it’s just what you get used to or have grown up with, but to me at least, compared with the more natural way the pop and rock singers use their voice, opera singing comes across as slightly bombastic and pretentious. Perhaps I am gradually changing my mind…
George Bizet
Carmen
http://manchesterlib.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=101977%2Fmancheslibnml11%2F4766272
(Accessed 09/01/18)
(Accessed 09/01/18)
I’ve deliberately chosen what I think is an ‘easier’ opera to listen to.
A couple of recognisable tunes that I already knew: Prelude (contains teasers of highlights to come), Habanera, the Toreador song.
‘Allons Allons’ has something of nursery rhyme simplicity to it with jovial winds and children singing.
I like the way Bizet incorporates the military sounding brass whilst Carmen dances for don Jose towards the end of Act II (Je vais danser en votre honeur), highlighting the character’s conflicting motivations of love and duty, both on stage and through the music.
Overtures
Gioachino Rossini
La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie): Overture
http://manchesterlib.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=101977%2Fmancheslibnml11%2F231614%5F01
(Accessed 09/01/18)
Catchy march tune kicked off by snare roll.
The course notes state: ‘He used lyrical melodies, energetic rhythms and clarity of orchestration, combined with well-conceived structures…’. Yes, exactly.
Gioachino Rossini
Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville): Overture
(Accessed 09/01/18)
http://manchesterlib.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=101977%2Fmancheslibnml11%2F231614%5F02
Parts of this remind me of Mozart, particulary towards the beginning.
Gioachino Rossini
Guillaume Tell (William Tell): Overture
http://manchesterlib.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=101977%2Fmancheslibnml11%2F231614%5F08
(Accessed 09/01/18)
This starts off in quite a different mood to what I was expecting. Sombre and plaintive introduction followed by a dramatic ‘stormy’ sounding section. Lyrical woodwinds section and the mood gradually lightens until a trumpet call, echoed by the the horns, bring in the familiar catchy dance-like theme.
Luigi Cherubini
Faniska: Overture
http://manchesterlib.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=101977%2Fmancheslibnml11%2F557908%5F06
(Accessed 09/01/18)
I saw this performed at the RNCM and it’s really grown on me. I particularly like the call and response style of the violin with the rest of the orchestra.
Richard Wagner
Die Walkure, Act III: Ride of the Valkyries
http://manchesterlib.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=101977%2Fmancheslibnml11%2Fpm6701%5F001
(Accessed 09/01/18)
Fantastic use of the orchestra at the beginning, full of anticipation and (for lack of a better word) ‘windiness’ 🙂
Jim Mennell Music 