MUSIC 101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 18: Gesamtkunstwerk, Giuseppe Verdi, Recitative
26 Dec 2015
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Document Summary
Romantic opera tied into two important themes: the idea of breaking down barriers between the arts, the celebration of music as the most profound of all the arts. During this time, many operas took their subjects from highly regarded romantic novels. Bel canto- a style of singing that brings out the sensuous beauty of the voice: he never let the voice be overshadowed by the orchestra. Cared about the dramatic quality of his operas: interested in people, sought out dramatic subjects full of stirring action, had a genius for finding just the right vocal melody to capture a dramatic situation. After beethoven, wagner was the most influential of all nineteenth century composers. His musical innovations in harmony and orchestration revolutionized instrumental music and opera. Other than composing, wagner had developed elaborate theories on what art, music, and opera ought to look like. Wagner believed that opera began degenerating from its form as serious drama in music.
