MUS 15 Study Guide - Final Guide: Castrato, Aria, Upper Class
Mus 15 Final Study Guide
Unit 5
Consider the audience for Italian opera in eighteenth century London. How would you describe this
audience socially and culturally? What do they value as consumers? Be prepared to discuss how
specific works support your answers.
○Italian opera
■Upper class
■Socially and culturally go to be seen
■Don’t understand the opera
■They value as consumers
■Value spectacle
■Vocal pyrotechnics
■Vocal grandeur
■Want to be wowed and see something crazy
■Want real Italian opera singers and performers
■No translations even though preformed in London
■A form of imported luxury-being entertained a privilege of the
aristocracy
■Julius Caesar the work we discussed-by Handel
■Can point out
■Aria-rage
■Described as fast and difficult, a lot of fast notes
■Castrati singer
■Castrated male singer
■Would choose boys to do this and would castrate them
before their voice broke, so that it never broke and could
be soprano
■Would also have long legs and arms with larger
chest cavity
■Many roles written for higher voices but as males-Cease
in this opera
■Outlawed eventually but they were highly prized
Document Summary
Consider the audience for italian opera in eighteenth century london. Socially and culturally go to be seen. Want to be wowed and see something crazy. Want real italian opera singers and performers. No translations even though preformed in london. A form of imported luxury-being entertained a privilege of the aristocracy. Julius caesar the work we discussed-by handel. Described as fast and difficult, a lot of fast notes. Would choose boys to do this and would castrate them before their voice broke, so that it never broke and could be soprano. Would also have long legs and arms with larger chest cavity. Many roles written for higher voices but as males-cease in this opera. Outlawed eventually but they were highly prized. Role of cesaer written for bernardi-famous castrato. Consider the audience of ballad opera in eighteenth century london. Be prepared to discuss how specific works support your answers.
