Rossini's opera William Tell was the last opera that Rossini wrote, even though he lived for about another forty years. Due to its extensive length (four hours!) it is usually trimmed for performance. The overture to this opera is probably the part of the opera that is best known.
Set in 13th century Switzerland, which was at this time occupied by Austria. One day an Austrian soldier tries to assault Leuthold's daughter. Leuthold kills the guard in defence and William Tell helps him escape. William Tell is an expert archer. Since he has opposed the Austrians, Gessler (the local Austrian governor) has him arrested. Gessler decides he will let Tell live if he can shoot an apple from his son's head with a single arrow. Tell takes two arrows and uses one to successfully shoot the apple off his son's head. Gessler inquires about the second arrow, and Tell confesses he kept it back to kill Gessler. Tell and his son escape. While Gessler is pursuing them, Tell kills him with a single shot.
For more on William Tell, check out this NPR introduction to the opera.
Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the fourteenth installment for next week.
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Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 12
Gioachino Rossini was born in the late 1700s and lived into the mid-1800s. He wrote sacred music, chamber music, other instrumental music , as well as thirty-nine operas.
His most famous operas are The Barber of Seville, La Cerentola, and William Tell. Some of his operas were written in his native language, Italian. Others were written in French. He wrote most of his operas (twenty of them) between 1815 and 1823.
"Apart from some individual legacies in favour of his wife and relatives, Rossini willed his entire estate to the Comune of Pesaro. The inheritance was invested to establish a Liceo Musicale (Conservatory) in the town. When, in 1940, the Liceo was put under state control and turned into the Conservatorio Statale di Musica 'Gioachino Rossini', the corporate body to which Rossini's inheritance had been conveyed, assumed the style of Fondazione G. Rossini. The aims of the institution, which is still in full activity, are to support the Conservatorio initiatives and to promote the study and the spread worldwide of the figure, the memory, and the works of Rossini."
Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the thirteenth installment for next week.
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His most famous operas are The Barber of Seville, La Cerentola, and William Tell. Some of his operas were written in his native language, Italian. Others were written in French. He wrote most of his operas (twenty of them) between 1815 and 1823.
"Apart from some individual legacies in favour of his wife and relatives, Rossini willed his entire estate to the Comune of Pesaro. The inheritance was invested to establish a Liceo Musicale (Conservatory) in the town. When, in 1940, the Liceo was put under state control and turned into the Conservatorio Statale di Musica 'Gioachino Rossini', the corporate body to which Rossini's inheritance had been conveyed, assumed the style of Fondazione G. Rossini. The aims of the institution, which is still in full activity, are to support the Conservatorio initiatives and to promote the study and the spread worldwide of the figure, the memory, and the works of Rossini."
Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the thirteenth installment for next week.
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Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 11
Don Giovanni is another one of Mozart's most famous operas. It is also one of the most-performed operas in the world.
A brief synopsis: "Don Giovanni, a young, arrogant, sexually promiscuous nobleman, abuses and outrages everyone else in the cast, until he encounters something he cannot kill, beat up, dodge, or outwit."
Some online resources:
- Synopsis, libretto, and full score
- Multiple arrangements (including ones for piano solo)
- Full production (from the 1954 Salzburg Festival)
Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the twelfth installment for next week.
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You just finished reading Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 11.
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A brief synopsis: "Don Giovanni, a young, arrogant, sexually promiscuous nobleman, abuses and outrages everyone else in the cast, until he encounters something he cannot kill, beat up, dodge, or outwit."
Some online resources:
- Synopsis, libretto, and full score
- Multiple arrangements (including ones for piano solo)
- Full production (from the 1954 Salzburg Festival)
Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the twelfth installment for next week.
-----
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Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 10
Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) by Mozart is one of his most famous operas. This work premiered in 1791 in Vienna. It was an immediate hit and has continued to be a favorite opera throughout the centuries.
"The opera celebrated its 100th performance in November 1792. Mozart did not have the pleasure of witnessing this milestone, having died of his illness on 5 December 1791."
"The first recording of The Magic Flute was of a performance at the 1937 Salzburg Festival, with Toscanini conducting the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera."
A quick synopsis:
Prince Tamino is saved from a serpent by three ladies in the service of the Queen of Night. The bird catcher Papageno takes credit for the rescue, but the three ladies soon set the record straight. They show Tamino a portait of the queen's daughter, Pamina, who is enslaved by Sarastro. Tamino falls in love with Pamina and sets out to rescue her. The three ladies give Tamino a magic flute to help him on his quest.
Papageno finds Pamina and tells her that Tamino loves her and is going to save her. Tamino is brought before Sarastro and told that he needs to undergo tests to prove his worthiness to marry Pamina. Tamino successfully undergoes the trials, Papageno finds a wife, and Tamino and Pamina are happily married.
Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the eleventh installment for next week.
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You just finished reading Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 10.
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"The opera celebrated its 100th performance in November 1792. Mozart did not have the pleasure of witnessing this milestone, having died of his illness on 5 December 1791."
"The first recording of The Magic Flute was of a performance at the 1937 Salzburg Festival, with Toscanini conducting the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera."
A quick synopsis:
Prince Tamino is saved from a serpent by three ladies in the service of the Queen of Night. The bird catcher Papageno takes credit for the rescue, but the three ladies soon set the record straight. They show Tamino a portait of the queen's daughter, Pamina, who is enslaved by Sarastro. Tamino falls in love with Pamina and sets out to rescue her. The three ladies give Tamino a magic flute to help him on his quest.
Papageno finds Pamina and tells her that Tamino loves her and is going to save her. Tamino is brought before Sarastro and told that he needs to undergo tests to prove his worthiness to marry Pamina. Tamino successfully undergoes the trials, Papageno finds a wife, and Tamino and Pamina are happily married.
Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the eleventh installment for next week.
-----
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Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 9
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of the most influential composers in German opera. He was born and grew up in Salzburg, Austria. To this day, Salzburg continues to be a major hub for classical music. He began playing the clavier (a precursor to the piano) at age 4 and actually composed little pieces at age 5.
He composed a couple of minor operas in his teenage years, and moved towards composing more operas in his thirties. Mozart's most famous operas include The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan tutte, and The Magic Flute.
If you're looking to introduce children to Mozart's operas, I highly recommend the CD Mozart's Magic Fantasy: A Journey through 'The Magic Flute.' It's produced by the same organization that released Beethoven Lives Upstairs. It weaves the music into a storyline that is engaging for students of all ages.
What's your favorite Mozart opera or piece?
Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the tenth installment for next week.
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You just finished reading Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 9.
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He composed a couple of minor operas in his teenage years, and moved towards composing more operas in his thirties. Mozart's most famous operas include The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan tutte, and The Magic Flute.
If you're looking to introduce children to Mozart's operas, I highly recommend the CD Mozart's Magic Fantasy: A Journey through 'The Magic Flute.' It's produced by the same organization that released Beethoven Lives Upstairs. It weaves the music into a storyline that is engaging for students of all ages.
What's your favorite Mozart opera or piece?
Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the tenth installment for next week.
-----
You just finished reading Essential Opera - Reading Together - Part 9.
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