Discussion Post: Social Protest
Opera
Perhaps more than any art form, opera combines multiple elements of the fine arts: extraordinary singing, musical composition and instrumentation, lyric, artistic stage sets, costume design, dance, acting, and storytelling. Often it is presented in a magnificent opera house with exquisite architecture and a dazzling array of sculptures, paintings, and interior design. I tell students they owe it to themselves once to pay out the heavy expense, dress up, and take the family to a good opera, at a good venue, with a decent seat. But, before going, go online and read all you can about the opera you will see-read up on the composer, read a summary of the story, and read translations of the songs.
The first three clips below are from works composed by Giuseppe Verdi. This great Italian opera composer is discussed in our course text. Verdi was both a realist and a pragmatist, a nationalist (don't forget, his native Italy only became a country in 1871), and came out of the dramatic Romantic tradition of music. Verdi was also a showman who played a key role in making opera a popular art form, not just an elite interest.
The response must include a reference list. Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.