CI opera music- what you need to know
Contents
Discover what you need to know about CI opera music, including its origins, benefits, and key features.
What is CI opera music?
CI opera music is a form of opera that is based on the use of sign language and is specifically designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is a relatively new form of opera, and has only been around for a few decades.
Characteristics of CI opera music
CI opera music, or Contemporary International opera music, is a genre of opera that emerged in the early 20th century. This type of opera is characterized by its use of atonal or serial techniques, its rejection of traditional tonality, and its focus on experimentalism and modernity. Although CI opera music is not as widely known or performed as other genres of opera, it has influenced many composers and continues to be an important part of the operatic repertoire.
History of CI opera music
CI opera music has a long and storied history, starting in the 18th century. This type of opera was designed to be enjoyed by people who are deaf or hard of hearing. It involves the use of signing, to make the story and dialogue accessible to the audience.
Origins
Opera is a genre of music that emerged in the late-16th century in Italy. It combines elements of speech, drama, and singing, and telling a story through music. The first opera was Dafne by Jacopo Peri, which was performed in 1598. Opera became popular in the 17th century, and by the 18th century, it was one of the most popular forms of entertainment. The first opera house was built in Venice in 1637, and it soon became a center for opera.
Opera spread to other parts of Europe, and by the 19th century, it was being performed in America as well. New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House opened in 1883, and it soon became one of the most important opera houses in the world. In the 20th century, opera continued to be popular, with new works being created by composers such as Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi.
Development
During the 1700s, the city-states of Italy were the cultural leaders of Europe. It was in this creative atmosphere that a new type of musical drama emerged–opera. Opera was a blend of music, drama, stage action, and often spectacular settings and costumes. It quickly became popular with audiences across Europe.
Composers such as Alessandro Scarlatti, Antonio Vivaldi, and George Frideric Handel wrote hundreds of operas that were performed in cities such as Naples, Rome, Venice, Vienna, London, and Berlin. The most famous composer of Italian opera was Giuseppe Verdi. His operas La traviata and Aida are still performed today.
In the late 1800s, a group of Italian opera composers working in Paris created a new style of opera called verismo (pronounced vay-ree-zmoh). Verismo opera was designed to tell realistic stories about common people. The most famous verismo opera is Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni.
Notable composers of CI opera music
In order to understand CI opera music, it is important to know the history of the composers who created it. Here is a list of some of the most notable composers of CI opera music:
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas and oratorios. He wrote his first opera in 1705 and his most famous work, “Messiah”, in 1741. Other notable works include “Water Music” (1717) and “Music for the Royal Fireworks” (1749).
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart composed his first opera, Mitridate, re di Ponto, in 1770 when he was just 14 years old. It was a huge success and led to a commission for another opera, La finta semplice. Mozart would go on to produce a string of brilliant operas including The Marriage of Figaro (1786), Don Giovanni (1787) and Così fan tutte (1790). However, his relationship with the powerful Vienna impresario Salieri sourdex and he left the city in 1791, vowing never to return. He died just six weeks later.
Giuseppe Verdi
One of the most popular forms of opera is composed in the bel canto style. Verdi was a master of this genre, and his operas remain some of the most popular in the repertoire today. Other notable composers of CI opera music include Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, and Gioachino Rossini.
Popular CI opera music
There are many different types of opera music, but one of the most popular is CI opera music. This type of opera originated in Italy and is known for its dramatic stories and beautiful melodies. If you’re a fan of opera, then you should definitely check out CI opera music.
The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville, or Il barbiere di Siviglia, is an opera buffa (comic opera) in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on a play of the same name by Pierre Beaumarchais. The opera was first performed in Rome on 20 February 1816 and was a resounding success.
The work tells the story of Count Almaviva’s attempts to woo the beautiful Rosina away from her tyrannical guardian, Dr Bartolo, who has plans to marry her himself. There are plenty of memorable tunes in the score, including the famous ‘Largo al factotum’ (‘Make way for the barber’), which is sung by Figaro in Act 1.
The Barber of Seville is one of Rossini’s most popular works and has been performed countless times since its premiere. It continues to delight audiences around the world with its fastball comedy and memorable tunes.
The Marriage of Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro is a five-act opera buffa (comic opera) composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It is based on the stage comedy La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro by Pierre Beaumarchais, which was first performed in 1784. The opera follows a day in the life of Figaro, a valet, as he schemes to marry his master’s niece Suzanne despite the obstacles posed by his master Count Almaviva.
The Marriage of Figaro was an immediate success and has been one of the most frequently performed operas ever since. It is one of four operas by Mozart that are regularly performed as part of the standard repertoire today.
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It is based on the legends of Don Juan, a fictional libertine and seducer. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the National Theater, now called the Estates Theatre, on 29 October 1787. Da Ponte’s libretto was billed as a dramma giocoso, a common designation of its time for opera seria that included some elements of comedy. Mozart entered the work into his catalogue as an opera buffa. Although sometimes classified as comic, it blends comedy, melodrama and supernatural elements.
The opera was commissioned as a result of the overwhelming success of Mozart’s trip to Prague in January and February 1787. Da Ponto’s libretto was completed by mid-June (the first act was set to music in July) and approval for production was given by Emperor Joseph II in mid-July. The last three weeks of July were spent on intense rehearsal that resulted in 31 private and public performances before the scheduled premiere at the Estates Theatre on 29 October.
There were no reviews of the premiere performance because da Ponto asked that critics stay away untilDon Giovanni had been performed five more times—which happened on 8, 11, 13, 15, and 17 November—so that he could make some changes to the libretto based on audience reaction. Despite its apparent popularity with audiences—it received eleven performances between October 1787 and February 1788—the emperor declared it “an odd combination” and withdrew his support for further productions after only two months
How to enjoy CI opera music
Listening to CI opera music can be a great way to relax and unwind. It can also be a great way to learn about other cultures. CI opera music can be enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.
Go to a live performance
One of the best ways to enjoy CI opera music is to go to a live performance. Seeing the music being performed live can give you a much deeper understanding and appreciation for it. It can also be a very moving and emotional experience. If you can, try to see as many different performances as possible, as each one will offer its own unique take on the music.
Listen to recordings
One of the best ways to become familiar with opera is to listen to recordings. You can buy opera CDs, which usually contain complete operas, or you can find them online. You can also find podcasts of entire operas or individual arias on iTunes or other websites. If you want to watch as well as listen, look for DVDs of opera productions.
Watch films or videos
YouTube is a treasure trove of free, full-length opera performances. You can find full stage productions, as well as single arias and scenes. Many companies also post trailers for upcoming productions on their YouTube channels. The Royal Opera House has a playlist of trailers for the 2017/18 season, which includes everything from The Marriage of Figaro to The Exterminating Angel.
