Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 20

La Traviata is one of Verdi's most famous operas.

Here's a brief synopsis:
"At one of her brilliant supper parties, the beautiful but frail demi-mondaine, Violetta Valéry, meets the well-born Alfredo Germont, and for love of him abandons her feverish life of pleasure. Alfredo’s father intrudes on their idyllic existence in the country and, although realizing her sincerity, persists in his demand that Violetta renounce Alfredo. Violetta determines to make the sacrifice and departs, leaving only a note for Alfredo. She appears at a ball in Flora’s house on the arm of an old admirer, Baron Douphol, to the fury of Alfredo. The two men play at cards; Alfredo wins consistently. Unable to persuade Violetta to go with him, Alfredo insults her and is challenged by the Baron. Violetta becomes ill, and all her friends desert her, leaving her virtually penniless. Alfredo at last returns. His father has told him of Violetta’s noble renunciation, and urged him to seek her forgiveness. Overjoyed at the sight of him, Violetta attempts to rise. But it is too late. As Germont and the doctor enter, Violetta dies in Alfredo’s arms." (from Opera Production: A Handbook by Quaintance Eaton, University of Minnesota Press, 1961)

Here are some resources on La Traviata:

• An Audio Introduction to La Traviata from NPR Music
• Becoming Traviata: A Look At Opera From Behind The Curtain from NPR Music
• La Traviata: Lesson Plan on Realism in Art and Music from LA Opera
• La Traviata: Classroom Materials from San Francisco Opera

Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the twenty-first installment for next week.

I'm starting to plan the next Reading Together series. If you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them. Please leave them in a comment below.

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Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 19

Giuseppe Verdi was an Italian composer who lived in the 1800s.
His most popular operas include Aida, Falstaff, Macbeth, Othello, Rigoletto, La Traviate, and Il Trovatore.
Since some of his operas draw on Shakespeare's plays, looking at those works would be a great idea for some cross-disciplinary lessons.

Here are some resources on Verdi and his works:

• La Donna e Mobile (from Rigoletto) arranged for level 3 piano solo
• Lesson plan to cover the overture to Nabucco
• Macbeth Educator's Guide from The Metropolitan Opera
• Aida Educator's Guide from the Edmonton Opera
• Time line of Verdi's life

Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the twentieth installment for next week.

I'm starting to plan the next Reading Together series. If you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them. Please leave them in a comment below.

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Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 18

Another famous opera written by Puccini is Madame Butterfly.

This epic story of betrayal, yearning, and loss still speaks to audiences.

In case you'd be interested in working through this opera with your students, I've collected a list of free resources.

• NPR Music: Cultural Collision: Puccini's 'Madame Butterfly' - includes and introduction to the opera with Placido Domingo
• Aria Database: information on four of the main arias from the opera
• San Francisco Opera Guild: Teacher's Guide - includes information about the opera and discussion prompts
• Pacific Opera Victoria: Study Guide - includes study activities for grades 1-6

Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the nineteenth installment for next week.

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Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 17

Puccini's opera, La Boheme is among his most famous operas.

The setting of this opera is in the Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1830s.

Four young bohemians, Marcello, Schaunard, Colline, and Rodolfo, share a garret apartment as they seek to earn a living with their art. While Marcello, Schaunard, and Colline go out one evening to celebrate, Rodolfo meets Mimi (who lives next door) and they fall in love.

Mimi and Rodolfo meet up with Rodolfo's friends at the Cafe Momus. There they come across Musetta, who although she is with a rich admirer (Alcindoro), is actually in love with Marcello. Musetta sends Alcindoro on an errand to get rid of him. After having eaten at the cafe, the friends realize they have no money, so Musetta charges the entire bill to Alcindoro. The four friends, Mimi, and Musetta leave, and Alcindoro returns to find he's been left with the bill.

A while later, "Mimi appears, coughing violently. She tries to find Marcello, currently living in a little tavern where he paints signs for the innkeeper. She tells him of her hard life with Rodolfo, who abandoned her the night before, and of Rodolfo's terrible jealousy. Marcello tells her that Rodolfo is asleep inside, and expresses concern about Mimì's cough. Rodolfo wakes up and comes out looking for Marcello. Mimi hides and overhears Rodolfo first telling Marcello that he left Mimì because of her coquettishness, but finally confessing that his jealousy is a sham: he fears she is slowly being consumed by a deadly illness. Rodolfo, in his poverty, can do little to help Mimì and hopes that his pretended unkindness will inspire her to seek another, wealthier suitor. Out of kindness towards Mimì, Marcello tries to silence him, but she has already heard all. Her weeping and coughing reveal her presence, and Rodolfo hurries to her. Musetta's laughter is heard and Marcello goes to find out what has happened. Mimì tells Rodolfo that she is leaving him, and asks that they separate amicably; but their love for one another is too strong for the pair to part. As a compromise, they agree to remain together until the spring, when the world is coming to life again and no one feels truly alone. Meanwhile, Marcello has found Musetta, and the couple quarrel fiercely about Musetta's flirtatiousness: an antithetical counterpoint to the other pair's reconciliation."

Some months later, both Marcello and Rodolfo are working and talking about both Mimi and Musetta who have left them for wealthy lovers. Schaunard and Colline arrive and the four have a very frugal dinner together. Musetta suddenly appears to tell them that she has found Mimi in the street, severely weakened by her illness. They assist Mimi onto a bed, and all but Rodolfo leave to scrounge up some money for medicine. As the friends return, Mimi tells Rodolfo she feels better and falls asleep. The opera ends with Rodolfo realizing she is dead.

Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the eighteenth installment for next week.

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Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 16

Giacomo Puccini was an Italian composer who lived in the late 19th century and early 20th century. His operas are still frequently performed today.

Among his most famous operas are La Boheme, Tosca, Madame Butterfly, and Turandot.

This quote on Puccini's approach to La Boheme really stood out to me.
"Puccini once said that his success came from putting 'great sorrows in little souls.' His operas tell us that at some point in their lives, people everywhere, in all walks of life, endure the same trials: love and envy, loss and heartbreak. That's especially true in La Boheme, a story set among struggling artists in the Latin Quarter of Paris." (source)

For more resources on Puccini and his operas, check out this resource from NPR.

Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the seventeenth installment for next week.

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