European and Asian Operas: Crowns, serpents and high Cs

In this seminar we will study operas from early baroque and Mozart, to later works in the classical repertoire such as Madame Butterfly by Puccini and Der Rosenkavalier by Strauss, through to traditional music theater pieces from Asia. We will compare the text settings that are in Italian and German and hear how the music reflects these languages. As the tones and inflections are radically different in Chinese, we will examine the varying partnerships of libretto to music and discover the philosophy of our cultures embedded in these structures. Along with musical analysis, we will delve into issues of prosody and word painting and engage in discussions, research, and creative projects examining how opera comes about, its place in our culture, and its aesthetic. Along with research papers, students will give in-class presentations of creative work, and if possible, present them as a public performance. (Ability to read music)