Transcript Diapositiva 1 - Programma LLP

Melodrama is formed by the words "melody" and "drama. In a melodrama
heroes are always good and their entrance is heralded by trumpets and
martial music. Villains are very bad, and their entrance is greeted with darksounding. Usually melodramas are based on stereotyped formulas: a villain
poses a threat, the hero escapes the threat and there is a happy ending.
Melodramas can also be distinguished from tragedy by the fact that they are
open to having a happy ending.
Giuseppe Verdi was born in
1813. He completed his studies
by taking private lessons. In the
1836 Verdi married Margherita
Barezzi.
The failure and the dead
of his wife and his two little
daughters, determined a
serious crisis in the
musician, who decided to
leave Milan and to return
to Busseto.
But a theater redactor, Merelli, induced him to
resume the job and to play the “Nabucco”, it
was a triumph.
In 1847 Verdi had his first
experience abroad.
Around 1850 Verdi
composed the famous
Popular Trilogy , so the
three works are called:
“the Rigoletto”, “the
Trovatore”, “the Traviata”.
In 1859 the
musician
married his new
wife Giuseppina
Strepponi.
In 1871 in order to celebrate the
opening of the Suez Canal Verdi
“Aida” wrote, which was staged in
Cairo. Then he composed “Otello”,
and “Falstaff”, a comic work with
which he left the theatre. He on 27
January 1901 died in Milan.
Verdi after having met Francesco Piave, a
great collaborator, he will be able develop
the ideas that characterize his dramatic
world.
The conflict between the protagonists is inspired by love
and popular elements. In his works Verdi wanted point put
the conflict between the characters and their passions and
love stories.
Rigoletto’s story begins at the Duke’s palace where the Duke
wishes to seduce the Countess of Ceprano. Rigoletto, the Duke's
hunchbacked jester, mocks Count Monterone. The count, arrested
at the Duke's order, curses the Duke and Rigoletto. Thinking of the
curse Rigoletto goes home to his daughter Gilda.
When Rigoletto has gone, the
Duke appears. Gilda is in love with
him. Hearing some noises, Gilda
sends the Duke away. Outside the
noblemen convince Rigoletto to
abduct the Countess of Ceprano,
but they actually abduct Gilda. Too
late, Rigoletto realizes that he has
been duped and remembers the
curse.
Act 2
Rigoletto goes to the
Duke’s palace and
asks to return Gilda to
him, but she tells her
father that she is in
love with the Duke, so
Rigoletto swears.
Act 3
Rigoletto makes Gilda realize that the Duke isn’t a good man; indeed he
is in Sparafucile’s house, an assassin, and is attempting to seduce his
sister, Maddalena. Rigoletto offers Sparafucile some money for killing
the Duke and orders Gilda to go to Verona. She, who still loves the Duke,
returns dressed as a man
She overhears Maddalena begging for the Duke's life, and the
assassin promises her that he will kill someone else in place of the
Duke. Gilda decides to sacrifice herself for the Duke and enters the
house.
At midnight Rigoletto receives a
corpse wrapped in a sack but when
he opens it he discovers his dead
daughter and exclaims in horror:
"The curse!".
Gioacchino Antonio Rossini
(February 29, 1792 – November 13, 1868) was a
popular Italian composer who created 39 operas,
sacred music and chamber music.
He was born into a family of musicians in Pesaro.
His father, Giuseppe, was a horn
player, his mother, Anna, was a
singer. Rossini's parents began his
musical training early, and by the
age of six he was playing the
triangle in his father's band. He
went to Bologna with his mother
and he remained there.
His best known works include “The
Barber of Seville”, “La Cenerentola”
and “William Tell”. Until his retirement
in 1829, Rossini had been the most
popular opera composer in history. The
Barber of Seville was the first Italian
opera ever presented in the United
States.
The opera is divided in two acts. The story is set in Seville, in Spain.
The count of Almaviva has fallen in love with the beautiful Rosina,
pupil of old and jealous don Bartolo; the love between the two is
contrasted by don Bartolo himself, who wants to marry Rosina. The
barber and the factotum Figaro, decides to help the count to
approach the maiden.
The story takes revolves around a series of funny plots,
disguises and mistaken identities. Another major
character is don Basilio, a friend of don Bartolo and
Rosina’s teacher of music. the story has a happy ending:
it all will be resolved with a wedding between the count
of Almaviva and Rosina.