MUS-0001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Figured Bass, Opera Seria, Aria
Document Summary
Opera comes in as a new genre in the baroque period. Opera seria: main genre of late-baroque italian opera (ca. 1700-1750: attempt to reform opera make it more elevated, less comedic, strictly serious plots, many plots draw on mythology and ancient history, entirely serious plots with happy endings (in most cases) order is restored. Men who had been castrated before puberty so they could still sing high, virtuosic notes as adults. Stars of the show many came to see the castrati. Shocking to many outside italy as well as inside italy. This practice died out in the late 18th century, early 19th century. Appealing for poorer families so the child could rise up in the world: structured in recitative and aria. Secco recitative- the singing that is like dialogue, just accompanied by basso continuo. Aria- a pause in the action, focuses on the singer and his/her emotions.
