L a travi ata

A n I tro d u cti n n o
Co m p o ser: Gi sep p e V erd i u A R o yal O p era H o u se E d u cati n R eso u rce o

Co n ten ts
I tro d u cti n n o Ch aracters S yn o p si s I s tru e! W el, al o st t l m Gi sep p e V erd i u T h e M u si c P ro d u cti n an d D esi n o g 2 4 6 11 12 15 35

I tro d u cti n n o
T h i p ack i p rep ared fo r teach ers. W h ist m o st o f th e m ateri i s s l al s p arti l y su i l fo r u se w i p u p is i K ey S tag es 2 an d u p , i i easiy cu arl tab e th l n t s l ad ap tab l fo r w o rk w i b o th yo u n g er an d o l er stu d en ts. e th d

T each ers are en co u rag ed to sel ect fro m an d /o r ad ap t th e m ateri al acco rd i g to th ei n eed s. T h e co n ten ts o f th e p ack are su ffi en t to su p p o rt n r ci an exten si p ro g ram m e o f l ve earn i g . T h ere are secti n s o n th e sto ry, n o ch aracters, m u si co m p o ser, so u rces fro m w h i h e d eri c, ch ved h i i eas, s d p ro d u cti n an d d esi n . A cco m p an yi g each secti n are i eas fo r o g n o d cl assro o m acti ti an d th ere i a co m p reh en si set o f co m p o si o n vi es, s ve ti exerci ses th at vary i l n evel o f d i cu l ffi ty.

T each ers p ressed fo r ti e w il fi d i ad van tag eo u s to fo cu s o n sel m l n t ected asp ects. S tu d en ts atten d i g a lve p erfo rm an ce o f th e o p era sh o u l at l n i d east b e th o ro u g h l fam ii w i th e sto ry an d , i ealy, sh o u l b e i tro d u ced to a y lar th d l d n n u m b er o f ch o r p o i ts - m o m en ts o r asp ects to lsten an d l o k o u t fo r. an n i o S o m e fo rm o f fo lo w -u p acti ty i al an essen ti co m p o n en t i th e l vi s so al n erfo rm an ce exp eri ce p en .

I sh o u l b e stressed th at o p era i vo l t d n ves several i ter-rel n ated art fo rm s. Li sten i g w i o u t th e vi al d i en si n , o r fo cu si g o n d esi n el en ts n th su m o n g em i d ep en d en tl o f th e m u si o r d ram a, are val ab l ap p ro ach es i rai n g n y c u e n si stu d en ts aw aren ess b u t th ey sh o u l to an exten t b e reg ard ed as a m ean s d to an en d . I o p era th e w h o l i m u ch m o re th an th e su m o f th e p arts! n e s

T h e m ateri i th e p ack m ay b e p h o to co p i fo r u se i cl al n ed n ass o n l T h e y. m ateri i co vered b y co p yri h t an d al ri h ts are reserved . al s g l g

A teach i g p ack d evi n sed fo r th e S ch o o l M ati ee i 20 0 5 s n n

Ch aracters
T h e cen tral ch aracter o f th e o p era i V i l s o etta, M ari D u p l e essi su n g b y a s, so p ran o . S h e i L a travi s ata T h e W o m an w h o h as S trayed S h e h as . strayed i th e sen se th at sh e i a co u rtesan : a yo u n g w o m an w h o se n s ci m stan ces h ave fo rced h er to sel h er favo u rs to m en . A s i th e p l rcu l n ay, th e h ero i e h as co n su m p ti n . n o

T h e tw o o th er p ri ci al ch aracters are A l n p fred o Germ o n t (ten o r), w h o fals i l n l ve w i V i l o th o etta an d h i fath er Gi rg i Germ o n t (b ari n e), al ays s o o to w referred to si p l as m y Germ o n t W e are to l n o th i g ab o u t th ei p ast. . d n r

V erd i cl earl reco g n i y zed th e p o ssi ii o f tu rn i g th i sto ry i to an o p era b lty n s n an d en g ag ed a lb retti (th e p erso n w h o p ro vi es th e lb retto th e text fo r i st d i th e co m p o ser), F ran cesco M ari P i a ave, to m ake a su i l ad ap tati n o f th e tab e o pl ay. P i ave sh o rten ed th e o ri i al an d m ad e a n u m b er o f o th er g n m o d i cati n s, i cl d i g ch an g i g th e n am es o f th e ch aracters. fi o n u n n N everth el ess, L a travi ata (fi p erfo rm ed i 1853) rem ai s very m u ch lke rst n n i T h e L ad y o f th e C am eli (fi p u b lsh ed as a n o vel i 1848 an d th en las rst i n p erfo rm ed as a p l i 1852). ay n

O th er l esser ch aracters i cl d e: n u F l ra (V i l o o etta fri d ) s en B aro n D o u p h o l (an ad m i o f V i l rer o etta) D o cto r Gren vi l M arq u i d b i n y (fri d o f F l ra) s O g en o Gasto n e (V i u n t o f L eto ri sco res, fri d o f A l en fred o ) so p ran o b ari n e to b ass b ass ten o r 4

A n n i a (V i l n o etta m ai ) s d Jo sep h (servan t at th e co u n try h o u se)

so p ran o ten o r

T h ere are al o th er servan ts an d l i an d g en tl en , fri d s o f V i l so ad es em en o etta an d F l ra (ro l su n g b y th e ch o ru s). o es

A cti ti vi es
W h at are th e stren g th s an d w eakn esses o f (a) A l fred o ; (b ) V i l o etta an d (c) Germ o n t? A re th ey b elevab l as i e real p eo p l Can w e i en ti w i th em e? d fy th an d th ei p ro b l s? D o th ey ch an g e i an y w ay as th e o p era u n fo l s? D o r em n d w e d evel p feeln g s fo r o r ag ai st an y o f th em ? o i n

W ri i ag i ary extracts fro m th e d i es o f: te m n ari (a) V i l o etta - after th e o p en i g p arty (A ct I n ) - after th e m eeti g w i Germ o n t (A ct I S cen e 2) n th I - i m ed i m atel b efo re A ct I I y I (b ) A l fred o - after th e o p en i g p arty (A ct I n ) - w h ie i P ari (A ct I S cen e 1) l n s I - after F l ra p arty (A ct I S cen e 2) o s I (c) Germ o n t- after m eeti g w i V i l n th o etta (A ct I S cen e 1) I - after F l ra p arty (A ct I S cen e 2) o s I - after V i l o etta d eath s R em em b er, a d i ary i a p erso n al d o cu m en t i w h i w e reco rd s n ch p ri vate feeln g s. i

S el ect a p u p i to eco m e Germ o n t an d p u t h i (o r h er) i th e i ess l b m n w tn b o x I vi o th er p u p is to i terro g ate Germ o n t ab o u t h i b eh avi u r d u ri g . n te l n s o n th e o p era.

S yn o p si s
T h e acti n takes p l o ace i o r n ear P ari aro u n d 1850 . n s

A ct I
T h e d raw i g ro o m i V i l n n o etta's h o u se i P ari n s

Al fred o i a g u est at a p arty i V i l s n o etta h o u se i P ari H e h as falen i s n s. l n l ve w i h er an d i vi o th n tes everyo n e to j i h i i d ri ki g a to ast i p rai o f o n m n n n n se l ve, b eau ty an d h ap p i ess. o n

T h e g u ests l eave. V i l o etta feel u n w el an d stays b eh i d . A l s l n fred o h as al so rem ai ed . N o w th at th ey are al n e h e can tel V i l n o l o etta h e l ves h er. W h en o h e h as l sh e th i ks ab o u t w h at h as j st h ap p en ed . H e seem s to m ean eft n u w h at h e says. I th e p ast sh e h as en j yed th e co m p an y o f m an y m al n o e ad m i rers, b u t sh e h as n o t fel to w ard s an y o f th em w h at sh e n o w feel t s to w ard s A l fred o . B u t, sh e says, l ve i fo r o th ers. S h e lves o n l fo r o s i y pl easu re.

A ct I I
S cen e 1: A ro o m o n th e g ro u n d fl o r o f V i l o o etta's co u n try h o u se n ear P ari s

I i th ree m o n th s l t s ater. V i l o etta h as falen i l ve w i A l l n o th fred o an d th ey are lvi g q u i y at h er co u n try h o u se o u tsi e P ari A l i n etl d s. fred o l earn s th at Vi l o etta h as b een secretl seli g h er m o st val ab l p o ssessi n s to p ay fo r y ln u e o th ei lfe to g eth er. H e i sh o cked an d l r i s eaves h astiy fo r P ari w h ere h e l s, i ten d s to rai th e m o n ey to rep ay V i l n se o etta. 6

Vi l o etta recei ves an u n exp ected vi t fro m A l si fred o fath er, Germ o n t. H e s tels V i l l o etta th at A l fred o si s ster i ab o u t to b e m arri b u t th at th e s ed m arri e co u l b e caled o ff i th e si ag d l f ster fi c l s an earn t o f A l fred o s asso ci o n w i V i l ati th o etta, b ecau se o f V i l o etta p ast rep u tati n . F o r th e s o sake o f A l fred o g o o d n am e an d h i d au g h ter fu tu re h ap p i ess, Germ o n t s s s n pl ead s w i V i l th o etta to l eave A l fred o . E ven tu aly, w i g reat sad n ess, l th Vi l o etta ag rees.

Vi l o etta i al n e. S h e s o recei ves a n o te fro m F l ra, h er fri d , i vi n g o en n ti h er to a p arty th at sam e even i g . B u t V i l n o etta i s n o t i terested . P arti n es an d rel o n sh i s w i ati p th vari u s l vers b el n g to o o o h er p ast. S h e i very s h ap p y w i A l th fred o an d sh e sm ies at th e i ea l d th at an yo n e sh o u l th i k d n sh e w o u l ever retu rn to th at styl o f lvi g . d e i n
P h o to g rap h : Cath eri e A sh m o re n

Al fred o retu rn s fro m P ari H e i exp ecti g a vi t fro m h i fath er b u t d o es s. s n si s n o t kn o w th at h i fath er h as al s read y b een . V i l o etta l eaves th e ro o m , o fferi g th e excu se th at sh e d o es n o t w i to m eet Germ o n t. B u t after a n sh w h ie a m essen g er arri l ves w i a n o te fo r A l th fred o . I i a farew el m essag e t s l fro m V i l o etta, teli g h i th at sh e i retu rn i g to P ari to h er fo rm er w ay o f ln m s n s lfe. i 7

H e i h eartb ro ken . H i fath er en ters an d tri to co m fo rt h i . A l s s es m fred o n o ti ces F l ra i vi o n to th e p arty. H e i su re th at V i l o s n tati s o etta h as l h i eft m fo r an o th er m an an d th at h e w il fi d th em b o th at F l ra p arty. l n o s

S cen e 2: A ri l fu rn i ed an d il m i ated ro o m i F l ra's h o u se ch y sh lu n n o

Al fred o arri ves at th e p arty an d j i s th e o th er m en at th e g am i g tab l o n n es. Vi l o etta en ters w i a n ew fri d , th e B aro n D o u p h o l A l th en . fred o l ck i i at s u s n th e tab l an d h e i ch alen g ed b y th e B aro n . A l es s l fred o w i s h an d so m el an d n y th e B aro n i th an kfu l w h en th e g u ests are caled to th ei m eal s l r .

Vi l o etta an d A l fred o are b ri y al n e. S h e asks h i to l efl o m eave. R em em b eri g h er p ro m i to A l n se fred o fath er, sh e p reten d s th at sh e l ves s o th e B aro n . A l fred o i en rag ed b y h er b eh avi u r. H e th ro w s o p en th e d o o rs s o an d cals th e o th er g u ests b ack i to th e ro o m . R ep eated l h e i su l l n y n ts Vi l o etta an d th ro w s h i w i n i g s at h er. V i l s n n o etta fai ts i F l ra arm s. n n o s Al fred o fath er arri s ves i ti e to w i ess h i so n o u trag eo u s b eh avi u r. n m tn s s o Too l ate A l fred o realzes th at h e h as g o n e to o far an d h e feel ash am ed . i s T h e B aro n ch alen g es h i to a d u el l m .

A ct I I I
Vi l o etta's b ed ro o m

A m o n th h as p assed . V i l o etta il ess h as w o rsen ed ; sh e i frai an d i s ln s l s d yi g . S h e read s, o n ce ag ai , a l n n etter fro m A l fred o fath er. I says th at th e s t d u el to o k p l ace. T h e B aro n w as i j red b u t i reco veri g . A l nu s n fred o n o w kn o w s th e tru th ab o u t V i l o etta sacri ce to save h i si s fi s ster m arri e. s ag

S en si g th at sh e h as n o t l n g to lve, V i l n o i o etta fears th at A l fred o w il n o t l co m e to see h er i ti e. n m

Al fred o retu rn s. T h e co u p l are reu n i e ted an d are h ap p y o n ce m o re. T h ey p l th ei fu tu re to g eth er, b u t A l an r fred o g rad u aly realzes h o w il V i l l i l o etta i s. T h e d o cto r an d Germ o n t arri an d b ri y V i l ve efl o etta feel m u ch stro n g er. s B u t h er stren g th d o es n o t l ast an d sh e co lap ses. N o th i g m o re can b e l n d o n e. V i l o etta ( a travi L ata i d ead . ) s

A cti ti vi es
W h i m o m en ts i L a travi ch n ata d o yo u fi d (a) m o st en j yab l an d (b ) n o e, d ram ati l m o st effecti caly ve? Can yo u exp l n w h y? ai

I th e o u tco m e o f th e o p era o b vi u s an d exp ected ? I i sati s o s t sfacto ry? Can yo u su g g est al tern ati ves?

W h y d o yo u th i k V erd i ch o se th i sto ry fo r an o p era? Can w e l n s earn an yth i g fro m L a travi n ata?

W h at co m m en t d o yo u th i k th e o p era i m aki g ab o u t th e so ci n s n ety i w h i n ch th e sto ry i taki g p l s n ace?

Germ o n t reg ard s V i l o etta as so ci l u n accep tab l H ave atti d es realy aly e. tu l ch an g ed ? Co n si er th e p ro b l s cau sed b y cu l ral relg i u s, raci as w el d em tu , i o al l as vari u s so ci d i o al fferen ces. W o rki g ei er i d i d u aly o r i sm al g ro u p s, d evi a b ri p l t fo r a n th n vi l n l se ef o p resen t d ay o p era, ch o o si g an n accep tab l h ero i e (o r h ero ) fro m o n e n u e n

o f th e ab o ve categ o ri es. I en ti setti g s/scen es i w h i th e acti n w il d fy n n ch o l take p l ace.

A fter yo u h ave seen L a travi ata, w ri a l te etter to a fri d . I n o t m o re th an en n fo u r o r fi sen ten ces tel yo u r fri d w h at th e sto ry o f th e o p era i ab o u t. ve l en s D o n d escri e th e d etai o f w h at yo u h ave seen ; j st p i o u t th e i p o rtan t t b l u ck m h ap p en i g s an d even ts i th e sto ry. n n

P ro d u ce a seri o f carto o n styl d raw i g s (say, si i to tal to create a es e n x n ) sto ryb o ard teli g th e sto ry o f L a travi ln ata.

10

I s tru e! W el, al o st t l m
L a travi ata i an ad ap tati n o f T h e L ad y o f th e C am eli b y A l s o las exan d re D u m as (w h o se fath er w as th e au th o r o f T h e T h ree M u sketeers an d T h e C o u n t o f M o n te C ri ). T h e L ad y o f th e C am eli i b ased o n th e lfe o f a sto las s i real p erso n , M ari D u p l e essi a yo u n g w o m an w h o b ecam e th e m i s, stress o f a n u m b er o f i fl en ti m en i P ari so ci n u al n s ety. F o r a sh o rt ti e sh e w as th e m l ver o f th e yo u n g er D u m as. A t th e ag e o f 23, sh e d i fro m co n su m p ti n . o ed o Co n su m p ti n (tu b ercu l si i a d i o o s) s sease w e h ear l ess o f n o w ad ays b ecau se o f th e effecti treatm en t an d p reven tati tech n i u es avaiab l th ro u g h ve ve q l e m o d ern m ed i n e. I w as a d i ci t sease th at p arti l y attacked th e l n g s an d cu arl u o ften cau sed th e su fferer to b eco m e i creasi g l w eak. D u m as sto ry n n y attracted a g reat d eal o f atten ti n an d w as a est seler i i d ay. o b l n ts

P h o to g rap h : Cath eri e A sh m o re n

11

Gi sep p e V erd i u
Gi sep p e F o rtu n i o F ran cesco V erd i w as b o rn i th e vil e o f L e R o n co l u n n lag e, n ear th e to w n o f B u sseto i n o rth ern I y, o n 10 O cto b er 1813 (V erd i an d n tal W ag n er w ere b o rn i th e sam e year). n

H i fath er w as an i n keep er. Gi sep p e sh o w ed a tal t fo r m u si at an s n u en c earl ag e an d , at th e ag e o f seven , b ecam e assi y stan t o rg an i at th e l cal st o ch u rch . I 1823 h e m o ved to B u sseto w h ere h e atten d ed a m u si sch o o l n c ru n b y A n to n i P ro vesi B y th e ag e o f th i o . rteen h e w as an assi stan t co n d u cto r o f th e B u sseto o rch estra.

I 1832 h e ap p led fo r ad m i o n to th e M ian Co n servato ry b u t w as n i ssi l rej ected . I stead , h e stu d i i M ian w i V i cen zo L avi n a w h o h ad b een n ed n l th n g a m u si an at th e fam o u s L a S cal o p era h o u se. D u ri g th i p eri d o f stu d y ci a n s o i M ian h e w as su p p o rted fi an ci l b y a B u sseto m erch an t n am ed n l n aly B arezzi .

I 1833 V erd i retu rn ed to B u sseto to b eco m e co n d u cto r o f th e P h ih arm o n i n l c S o ci ety. I 1836 h e m arri B arezzis d au g h ter, M arg h eri n ed ta.

I 1839, th e V erd i l B u sseto fo r M ian . I N o vem b er o f th at year, h i fi n s eft l n s rst o p era, O b erto , w as a su ccess at L a S cal an d a seco n d o p era w as a co m m i o n ed . B u t i p ro ved to b e a trag i p eri d i th e co m p o ser lfe. I ssi t c o n s i n lttl o ver a year, fi h i tw o ch id ren d i an d th en h i w i an d th e n ew i e rst s l ed s fe, o p era, U n G i rn o d i R eg n o (K i g fo r a D ay), w as a faiu re. V erd i l st th e w il o n l o l to g o o n , an d vo w ed n ever to co m p o se ag ai . n 12

T h e sien ce cam e to an en d w h en th e d i l recto r o f L a S cal sen t V erd i th e a lb retto fo r N ab u cco . T h e sto ry o f th e H eb rew s stru g g l fo r freed o m i e p ro ved i rresi b l to th e co m p o ser, an d th e o p era N ab u cco recei sti e ved i ts fi p erfo rm an ce i 1842. I w as a g reat su ccess. L ater i lfe V erd i sai o f rst n t n i d N ab u cco , y m u si career realy b eg an M cal l .

Gi sep p e V erd i g rew u p i a p eri d w h en , lke th e H eb rew s, th e I i s to o u n o i talan w ere stru g g ln g ag ai st fo rei n d o m i ati n - i th ei case, d o m i ati n b y i n g n o n r n o A u stri V erd i w as stro n g l p atri ti an d h i earl o p eras freq u en tl u sed a. y o c, s y y th em es w h i d eal w i o p p ressed p eo p l o verth ro w i g th ei m asters ch t th es n r (fo r exam p l N ab u cco , T h e L o m b ard s an d Jo an o f A rc). T h e ch o ru s o f th e e, H eb rew sl aves fro m N ab u cco b ecam e fi l asso ci rm y ated w i th e n ati n alst th o i cau se.

I 1861 V erd i b ecam e a d ep u ty i th e fi al-I i p arlam en t, b u t h e w as n n rst l talan i n o t su i ted to p o lti lfe an d after a sh o rt w h ie h e resi n ed an d w en t to i cal i l g lve o n h i farm i sem i i s n -reti rem en t. H o w ever, h e accep ted several i tern ati n al co m m i o n s, i cl d i g o n e fo r A i a, w h i recei n o ssi n u n d ch ved i fi ts rst p erfo rm an ce i Cai i 1871. A fter A i a, V erd i co m p o sed n o m o re o p eras n ro n d fo r fi fteen years b u t th en , w h en i seem ed h i o p era career h ad en d ed , h e t s p ro d u ced tw o m asterp i eces, O telo (1887) an d F al l staff (1893).

Gi sep p e V erd i w as i o lsed b y th e I i p u b lc, b o th as a co m p o ser an d u d i talan i as a fi u reh ead o f th e n ati n alst cau se an d w h en , i Jan u ary 190 1, h e fel g o i n l seri u sl il th e streets aro u n d h i h o tel i M ian w ere strew n w i straw so o y l, s n l th th at th e so u n d o f th e h o rses h o o ves w o u l n o t d i rb h i . H e d i o n 27 d stu m ed o Jan u ary 190 1. T h eatres an d sh o p s cl sed fo r th ree d ays, n ew sp ap ers w ere p ri ted w i b l n th ack b o rd ers, an d b l ack ri b o n s w ere h u n g o n fl s. b ag 13

A s th e co m p o ser w i ed , h i fu n eral w as a p ri sh s vate an d si p l o ccasi n . H e m e o h ad asked fo r, n e p ri O est, o n e can d l o n e cro ss B u t a m o n th l e, . ater h i s b o d y w as tran sferred , al n g w i th at o f h i seco n d w i (th e so p ran o , o th s fe Gi sep p i a S trep p o n i to th e Casa d i R i o so . A m o n g th e m o u rn ers w ere u n ), p m em b ers o f th e ro yal fam iy, fo rei n d i n i es, m em b ers o f th e I i l g g tari talan p arlam en t, an d th e co m p o sers P u cci i M ascag n i an d L eo n cavalo . A l o st i n, l m 30 , 0 0 p eo p l ln ed th e ro u te, an d th ei sp o n tan eo u s si g i g o f V a 0 e i r n n p en si ero (th e ch o ru s o f th e H eb rew sl aves) acco m p an i th e co rteg e al n g ed o i j u rn ey. ts o

M o st freq u en tl p erfo rm ed V erd i o p eras: y L a travi ata - T h e W o m an w h o strayed Ai a d R i ol g etto I tro vato re - T h e tro u b ad o u r l U n b alo i m asch era - A m asked b al l n l N ab u cco D o n C arl o O telo l F al staff M acb eth

14

T h e M u si c
E xtracts i th i secti n are i cl d ed i m o st sel n s o n u n ecti n s o f i h lg h ts b u t o hg i , sel ecti n s vary. I yo u u se a sel o f ecti n , ch eck to en su re i i cl d es th e i o t n u tem s yo u n eed . T o assi yo u , each extract h as b een i en ti ed b y i I i ti e st d fi ts talan tl an d b y i referen ce n u m b er i reco rd catal g u es, g i ts n o ven h ere i sq u are n b rackets [ ].

P rel d e [1] u
A n o p era i u su aly i tro d u ced b y a p i s l n ece o f o rch estral m u si caled an c l o vertu re. I L a travi n ata V erd i p referred to u se th e w o rd rel d e rath er p u th an vertu re b u t i p u rp o se i u n ch an g ed : i i i ten d ed to p rep are u s fo r o ts s t s n w h at i to fo lo w . A n o vertu re o r p rel d e u su aly d o es th i i tw o w ays: b y s l u l s n creati g th e ri h t atm o sp h ere o r m o o d ; an d b y i tro d u ci g o n e o r m o re o f n g n n th e th em es (m u si i eas) to b e h eard l cal d ater.

Li sten to th e o p en i g b ars o f th e P rel d e. H o w w o u l yo u d escri e th e n u d b m ood? I i ch eerfu l o r i i a lttl sad ? s t s t i e I i h arsh o r i i g en tl s t s t e? I th ere an y o th er d escri ti w o rd yo u m i h t u se? s p ve g

H o w w o u l yo u d escri e th e m u si d b c? I i fast o r sl w ? L o u d o r so ft? s t o S m o o th o r j erky? H i h o r l w d eep n o tes? g o W h at i stru m en ts can yo u h ear? n 15

T h e b ro ad , sw eep i g vi ln m el d y w h i fo lo w s, E xtract 1a, i i p o rtan t i n o i o ch l s m n th e o p era. I i u sed to exp ress V i l t s o etta l ve fo r A l s o fred o . L earn th i tu n e s an d lsten fo r i reap p earan ce j st b efo re V i l i ts u o etta p arti g fro m A l s n fred o i A ct I S cen e 1. n I

T h e m el d y i rep eated , th i ti e p l o s s m ayed b y celo s, cl n ets an d b asso o n s. l ari B u t lsten p arti l y to th e vi ln s (E xtract 1b ). T h e m u si th ey p l tels i cu arl o i c ay l u s th at th ere i an o th er si e to V i l s d o etta ch aracter. W h at d o yo u th i k i s n t i W h i o f th e fo lo w i g w o rd s m i h t b e u sed to d escri e th i q u alty? s? ch l n g b s i L au g h i g , A n g ry, P l n ayfu l S ad , F u n -l vi g ? , o n

B y co m b i i g th e tw o co n trasti g m u si i eas, i j st a few b ars th e nn n cal d n u co m p o ser h as to l u s a su rp ri n g am o u n t ab o u t V i l d si o etta.

16

B efo re yo u p ro ceed to A ct I p au se to th i k ab o u t w h at yo u are exp ecti g n n an d h o w th e sto ry o f th e o p era m i h t d evel p . A l o u g h th e P rel d e l g o th u asts l ess th an fo u r m i u tes i co n tai s several cl es. n t n u

A CT I
E x tra c t 2 (D ri ki g S o n g : i i o n e lete Calci) [3] n n L b am i i

T h e D ri ki g S o n g i i a stro n g w al rh yth m (th ree b eats i a b ar). F i n n s n tz n rst Al fred o an d th en V i l o etta p ro p o se to asts. A l fred o to asts l ve, V i l o o etta to asts p l easu re. O n each o ccasi n th e ch o ru s (rep resen ti g th e p arty o n g u ests) j i s i . o n n

N o ti th e co n trasts i d yn am i (vo l m e/l u d n ess) an d textu re (th e so l ce n cs u o o vo i co n trasti g w i th e fu l ch o ru s: th e very lg h t acco m p an i en t d u ri g ce n th l i m n th e so l p assag es co n trasti g w i th e fu l o rch estral so u n d w h en th e o n th l ch o ru s en ters).

Li sten to h o w th e so n g i p u t to g eth er (i stru ctu re). T h e tu n e, i tro d u ced s ts n fi b y th e o rch estra, i taken u p i m ed i rst s m atel b y A l y fred o an d i rep eated s several ti es. L i m sten fo r i reap p earan ce each ti e b u t al b e aw are o f ts m so th e co n trasti g secti n s b etw een each rep eti o n . n o ti

17

E x tra c ts 3a a n d 3b

( n d i felce, etera. D u et: A l u i fred o an V i l o etta) [4b ]

T h e o th er g u ests h ave g o n e i to th e b alro o m , l n l eavi g A l n fred o an d V i l o etta al n e. A l o fred o i n o w ab l to tel V i l s e l o etta h o w h e i stan tl fel i l ve w i n y ln o th h er w h en h e fi saw h er. H i o ve-so n g i cl d es an i p o rtan t m u si rst s l n u m cal p h rase (th e fi fo u r b ars) w h i i rep eated o n n u m ero u s o ccasi n s rst ch s o d u ri g th e o p era. n

N o tran sl o n i realy n ecessary to exp l n th e w arm th an d p assi n o f th i ati s l ai o s m u si N o r i i n ecessary w h en V i l c. s t o etta resp o n d s w i a tu n e th at i m u ch th s m o re fri l u s an d lg h t-h earted . S h e tels A l vo o i l fred o , o u taki g l ve to o Y re n o seri u sl F ri d sh i i al I o ffer o y. en p s l .

18

A fter a sh o rt w h ie th e tw o si g to g eth er b u t th e m u si th ey si g co n ti u es l n c n n i th e m an n er o f th ei sep arate m el d i A l n r o es: fred o p art i g en eraly sm o o th s s l w i few m el d i l th o c eap s, w h ie V i l l o etta co n ti u es i p l n n ayfu l styl S i ce th ey e. n are each rep eati g w h at th ey h ave su n g b efo re, th ere are tw o d i n fferen t sets o f w o rd s b ei g su n g at th e sam e ti e. B u t th e d i n m fferen ces i atti d e an d n tu m an n er o f th e tw o , as d i l sp ayed i th e m u si rem o ve th e n eed fo r th e n c, w o rd s to b e fo lo w ed exactl l y.

N o ti al th e acco m p an i en t to th i d u et. W h en A l ce so m s fred o i si g i g , th e s n n p reci ess o f th e rh yth m i o ften em p h asi sen s sed b y g en tl p l cki g e u n (p i cato ) i th e l w er stri g s w h ie, at th e sam e ti e, l n g su stai ed n o tes zzi n o n l m o n are h el b y th e w i d i stru m en ts, creati g an effect o f sm o o th n ess. B y d n n n co n trast, V i l o etta i acco m p an i b y ch i y an d b ri h t w o o d w i d so u n d s, s ed rp g n p arti l y th e fl te. cu arl u

L i th e D ri ki g S o n g th i d u et i i w al ti e. T h e d i ke n n s s n tz m fferen ce b etw een th e tem p o an d m o o d o f th e tw o d em o n strates th at w al tzes m ay b e i m an y n di fferen t styl es. B e aw are o f o th er exam p l es.

E x tra c ts 4a a n d 4b Vi l o etta) [6b ]

( h , fo rs l i ch e lan i a. R eci ve an d ari A u m tati a:

I an o p era ch aracters o ften exp ress al u d th ei th o u g h ts an d feeln g s, as n o r i th o u g h th ey w ere tal n g to th em sel ki ves. T h e ad van tag e to u s, th e au d i ce, i th at b y 'lsten i g i ' w e can g ai a d eep er u n d erstan d i g o f th e en s i n n n n ch aracter.

19

T h i excerp t b eg i s w i a reci ve. A reci ve i p ro b ab l th e n earest s n th tati tati s y w e g et i m u si to everyd ay sp eech . I h as lttl m el d y o r tu n e an d th e n c t i e o rh yth m resem b l th at w h i w o u l b e u sed i th e w o rd s w ere read o r es ch d f sp o ken . Co m p o sers o ften u se reci ve to g i a l t o f i fo rm ati n q u i y tati ve o n o ckl o r tel a sto ry, o r, as i th i case, to p resen t d i l n s fferen t th o u g h ts o n e after an o th er. T h i reci ve il strates th e l s tati lu atter w el. l

Vi l o etta i al n e. U n ti th i p o i t sh e h as p reten d ed th at th ere i n o p l s o l s n s ace i n h er lfe fo r l ve. L i fo r h er, m ean s seeki g p l i o fe, n easu re. B u t h ere w e fi d h er n al n e, ad m i n g th at sh e h as b een d eep l affected b y A l o tti y fred o p resen ce s an d b eh avi u r. S h e i very d i rb ed b y h er feeln g s to w ard s h i ; sh e o s stu i m w o u l lke to resi th ese feeln g s b u t fi d s i d i cu l to i n o re th em . d i st i n t ffi t g

T h e stru g g l sh e i exp eri ci g i cap tu red i th e sh o rt d ram ati p h rases e s en n s n c sh e si g s, p u n ctu ated b y o ccasi n al ag i n o tated o rch estral i terru p ti n s, n o w h i ad d to th e ten si n . ch o

A n ari i a so n g i o p era o r o rato ri . B y co n trast w i reci ve, th e a s n o th tati m el d y i i p o rtan t i an ari A ri ten d to d w el o n o n e i ea, refl o s m n a. as l d ecti g n o n a p arti l feeln g , m o o d o r th o u g h t. cu ar i

I th i ari V i l n s a o etta i w o n d eri g w h eth er A l s n fred o realy co u l b e th e ri h t l d g m an fo r h er. A s sh e th i ks ab o u t h i th e m el d y sh e si g s i very d i n m o n s fferen t fro m , th e ch i y, al o st d efi t styl w e h eard fro m h er p revi u sl N o w i rp m an e o y. t i m u ch m o re lke A l s i fred o o w n m u si an d , as sh e th i ks ab o u t h i , s c n m

20

Vi l o etta q u i n atu raly m o ves i to th e tu n e an d w o rd s w i w h i h e te l n th ch exp ressed h i l ve fo r h er (E xtract 3a). s o

E x tra c t 5

( em p re lb era. A ri V i l S i a: o etta) [6c]

T h i ari fo r V i l s a o etta fo lo w s o n al o st d i l m rectl fro m th e p revi u s o n e. y o R ealzi g th at sh e i fali g i l ve w i A l i n s ln n o th fred o , sh e tels h ersel h i i l f T s s m ad n ess S h e i d eterm i ed to o verco m e th e tem p tati n an d si g s a . s n o n d elg h tfu ly b ri h t an d lvel ari 'L et m e lve fo r p l i l g i y a, i easu re o n l B u t th en , y.' fro m o u tsi e, sh e h ears th e d i d stan t vo i o f A l ce fred o si g i g ever b efo re n n N h ave I kn o w n ...', w i o n l a h arp fo r acco m p an i en t. F o r a m o m en t sh e i th y m s o n ce m o re u n su re o f h ersel b u t rap i l sh e sets asi e su ch feeln g an d f, d y d i d efi tl retu rn s to h er ari A g ai A l an y a. n fred o vo i i h eard , b u t th i ti e s ce s s m Vi l o etta co n ti u es u n i terru p ted , b ri g i g th e act to an en d i b rilan t styl n n n n n li e.

21

A CT I I
S cen e 1 E x tra c t 6 ( e m i b o len to sp i ti A ri A l D ei l ri . a: fred o ) [7b ]

T h ree m o n th s h ave p assed an d V i l o etta, i sp i o f h er earler i ten ti n s, n te i n o h as falen i l ve w i A l l n o th fred o . T h ey are lvi g to g eth er i h er co u n try i n n h o u se o u tsi e P ari d s.

A t th e b eg i n i g o f th e act A l n n fred o i al n e, an d i th i sh o rt ari h e si g s s o n s a n o f h i h ap p i ess an d o f th e d i s n fferen ce V i l o etta h as m ad e to h i lfe. H i s i s d ream s o f fi d i g a tru e an d l n n asti g l ve h ave b een an sw ered . V i l n o o etta lves o n l fo r h i an d h e i n ever h ap p y u n l i y m s ess sh e i b y h i si e. s s d

B u t th ere i a d ram ati ch an g e w h en A n n i a (V i l s c n o etta m ai ) en ters: s d A L F R E D O : A n n i a, w h ere h ave yo u b een ? n A N N I A : U p to P ari N s. A L F R E D O : S o m e sp eci reaso n ? al A N N I A : Y es, m y m i N stress sen t m e. A L F R E D O : B u t w h y? A N N I A : T o sel h er h o rses an d h er carri e. A l h er fu rs an d d i o n d s. N l ag l am A L F R E D O : A re yo u seri u s? o 22

A N N I A : T h e lfe yo u are l N i ead i g h as co st a l t o f m o n ey. n o A L F R E D O : W h y n o t tel m e? l A N N I A : I h ad to p ro m i sien ce. N se l A L F R E D O : T o p ro m i se! W h at su m i n eed ed ? s A N N I A : O n e th o u san d l u i N o s. A L F R E D O : I l p ay i I l g o to P ari A n d yet yo u r m i l t l s stress m u st n ever kn o w yo u to l m e. I stil h ave ti e to p u t i al i o rd er. Go ! Go ! d l m t ln

I i cl t s ear fro m th i extract fro m th e text (th e lb retto ) th at n o w i n o t th e s i s ti e fo r l n g , b eau ti l m el d i m o fu o es. T h ere i a m o o d o f co n cern an d u rg en cy. s Al fred o feel ash am ed th at h e h as n o t b een aw are o f th e h ard sh i h e i s p s cau si g V i l n o etta an d i an xi u s to rep ay h er. s o

T h e reci ve styl o f si g i g d escri ed i E xtract 4a i i eal fo r th i tati e n n b n s d s n versati n b etw een A l co o fred o an d A n n i a. N o ti h o w th e exci n ce tem en t an d ten si n b u id s th ro u g h o u t th i secti n u n ti th e fi al exp l si clm ax i o l s o l n o ve i s reach ed .

E x tra c t 7

( u ra si P cco m e u n an g el . A ri Germ o n t) [8b ] o a:

T h e th ree b ars o f m u si acco m p an yi g Germ o n t arri i m ed i c n s val m atel y so u n d o m i o u s an d th reaten i g . n n

Germ o n t i A l s fred o fath er. H e h as co m e to p ersu ad e V i l s o etta to l eave Al fred o . V i l o etta h as a b ad rep u tati n b ecau se o f h er p ast rel o n sh i s o ati p w i m en an d Germ o n t feel th at i A l th s f fred o i asso ci s ated w i h er, th e g o o d th n am e o f th e Germ o n t fam iy w il b e d am ag ed . H i vi t h as b een p ro m p ted l l s si b y th e fact th at h i d au g h ter (A l s fred o si s ster) i en g ag ed to b e m arri an d s ed 23

h er fi c w il cal o ff th e w ed d i g i h e l an l l n f earn s th at th e Germ o n t fam iy i l s p rep ared to accep t a g i w i a rep u tati n lke V i l rl th o i o etta H e al th i ks s. so n th at V i l o etta i n o t realy i l ve w i A l s l n o th fred o b u t i m erel after h i m o n ey. s y s T h ere i o n l o n e so l ti n : V i l s y u o o etta m u st g o !

Vi l o etta i ab l to sh o w Germ o n t th at, far fro m sp en d i g A l s e n fred o m o n ey, s sh e i i fact seli g h er o w n p o ssessi n s to p ay fo r th ei lfe to g eth er. s n ln o r i Germ o n t realzes th at th e l ve b etw een th e tw o i m u ch d eep er th an h e i o s h ad th o u g h t b u t h e stil i si th at th e rel o n sh i m u st en d . l n sts ati p

I th i ari Germ o n t i p l n g o n V i l n s a s ayi o etta co n sci ce. T h e cl s en ear su g g esti n i th at i h i d au g h ter h ap p i ess i ru i ed i w il b e V i l o s f s s n s n t l o etta s fau l t.

A s th e ari en d s V i l a o etta resp o n d s: 'A h , I u n d erstan d ! I o u g h t to sp en d a sh o rt w h ie aw ay fro m A l l fred o ! '

GE R M O N T : T h at n o t w h at I m aski g . s n V I L E T T A : H eaven s! T h ere so m eth i g fu rth er? I ve tri to h el yo u ! O s n ed p GE R M O N T : T ry stil h ard er. l V I L E T T A : Y o u aski g m e to g i h i u p fo rever? O re n ve m GE R M O N T : I m u st b e. t 24

A l th e exam p l so far h ave b een su n g b y a so p ran o (V i l l es o etta o r A n n i a) n o r ten o r (A l fred o ). T h e p art o f Germ o n t i su n g b y a b ari n e, a vo i a s to ce lttl d eep er an d d arker i so u n d th an a ten o r. Co m p are th i ari w i o n e i e n s a th su n g b y A l fred o an d lsten carefu ly to d i n g u i b etw een th e ten o r an d i l sti sh b ari n e vo i to ces. I i n o t al ays easy. t s w

T h e slg h tl w ei h ti so u n d o f th e b ari n e vo i i o ften u sed fo r o l er i y g er to ce s d ch aracters o r th o se w h o se w o rd i to b e resp ected . I th i case th e sh ap e s n s o f th e m el d y, w i i rep eated n o tes (an d th e rep eated ch o rd s i th e o th ts n acco m p an i en t) an d th e ab sen ce o f w i e l m d eap s, g i ves th e ari an ad d ed a d i ni g ty. I i a very ascu ln e m el d y. T h e co m p o ser i stru cti n th at th e t s m i o s n o ari i to b e su n g eetl em p h asi a s sw y zes Germ o n t p l s ead i g w i V i l n th o etta. O n ce ag ai th e exch an g es b etw een V i l n o etta an d Germ o n t at th e en d o f th e ari are n o t set to tu n efu l m u si F ro m th e q u i b eg i n i g , as V i l a c. et n n o etta si g s h , I u n d erstan d !, th e ten si n g ro w s an d th e m u si b eco m es b o th n A o c faster an d l u d er, reach i g a fi al clm ax w i V i l o n n i th o etta o ! N o ! s N

Li sten carefu ly to th e i p o rtan t co n tri u ti n o f th e o rch estral l m b o acco m p an i en t th ro u g h o u t th i secti n . m s o

E x tra c t 8

( i ala g i vi e. A ri an d D u et: V i l D te l o n a o etta an d Germ o n t) [8d ]

E ven tu aly, th ro u g h Germ o n t p ersi l s sten ce, i g reat sad n ess V i l n o etta ag rees to l eave A l fred o . S h e tels Germ o n t: l

25

I i a very m o vi g ari w h i i al o st lke a p rayer i i g en tl ess an d t s n a ch s m i n ts en si ceri n ty.

A s th e ari d raw s to a cl se Germ o n t o ffers h i sym p ath y: a o s 'S u fferi g b reaks yo u r h eart V i l n o etta Y o u m u st h ave co u rag e an d yo u r n o b l n atu re w il w i i th e en d .' e l n n I o th er w o rd s, h e m ay w el sym p ath i w i V i l n l se th o etta b u t n o t en o u g h to w i d raw h i d em an d th at sh e sh o u l l th s d eave A l fred o .

A s Germ o n t co n ti u es to exp ress h i sym p ath y an d u n d erstan d i g , V i l n s n o etta rep eats h er ari al o st as i sh e i n o l n g er h eari g w h at Germ o n t h as to a, m f s o n say. T h e tw o are si g i g si u l eo u sl b u t th ei p arts h arm o n i al o st n n m tan y r ze m b y co i ci en ce rath er th an b y ag reem en t. H o w d i n d fferen t fro m w h en Vi l o etta an d A l fred o si g to g eth er! n

N o ti h o w th e o rch estral acco m p an i en t fo r V i l ce m o etta ari i si p l as s a s m e, th o u g h p o rtrayi g th e p u ri an d si ceri o f h er feeln g s. T h i co n trasts n ty n ty i s stro n g l w i th e fu ler o rch estra u sed to acco m p an y Germ o n t. T h e y th l 26

o ccasi n al d i rd s, d o tted rh yth m fi u res an d trem b ln g (trem o l d o ) o sco g i an stri g s al h el to create th e i p ressi n o f su fferi g . n l p m o n

D l a: E x tra c t 9 ( i P ro ven za i m ar. A ri Germ o n t) [10 b ]

Al fred o i i d esp ai H e h as recei s n r. ved V i l o etta n o te sayi g th at sh e h as s n l h i . Germ o n t retu rn s an d tri to co m fo rt h i so n . H e b eg s A l eft m es s fred o to g o b ack h o m e w i h i to P ro ven ce. etu rn to yo u r n ati l d h e says, th m R ve an , h ere w e h ave al l n g ed fo r yo u r retu rn . Y o u m u st kn o w th at o n l th ere w lo y w il yo u fi d p eace o n ce m o re. l n

W h en w e th i k o f al o th er ten si n s i th e sto ry at th i ti e Germ o n t ari n l o n s m s a p ro vi es a b ri m o m en t o f co m p arati cal . I i a b eau ti l so n g , i d ef ve m t s fu n w h i th e seco n d verse rep eats th e m u si o f th e fi (I al p ro vi es a ch c rst t so d fu rth er o p p o rtu n i to b eco m e acq u ai ted w i th e q u alti o f th e b ari n e ty n th i es to vo i ce).

A CT I I
S cen e 2 e F i a l sc e n e (E n sem b l an d Ch o ru s) [14b ] n

T o en d an act o f an o p era, several p ri ci al ch aracters are o ften b ro u g h t n p to g eth er an d each co m m en ts o n th e si ati n as h e o r sh e sees i T h i tu o t. s m u si g ath eri g o f a g ro u p o f ch aracters i kn o w n as an en sem b l T h e cal n s e.

27

en d o f A ct I p ro vi es an excelen t exam p l b ecau se n o t o n l d o w e h ave I d l e y th e m ai ch aracters to g eth er, b u t th e ch o ru s i al i vo l n s so n ved .

T h e scen e i th e p arty g i s ven b y V i l o etta fri d F l ra. T h e g u ests h ave s en o b een i vi n ted to w ear fan cy d ress. S o m e o f th e l i h ave d ressed as ad es g yp sy g i s an d so m e o f th e m en as m atad o rs. F o lo w i g h er p ro m i to rl l n se Germ o n t, V i l o etta atten d s th e p arty w i th e B aro n D o u p h o l N o t th . su rp ri n g l A l si y, fred o th i ks V i l n o etta h as l h i so th at sh e can resu m e h er eft m rel o n sh i w i th e B aro n , o n e o f h er fo rm er ad m i ati p th rers. A l fred o i fu ri u s. s o H e cals th e g u ests to g eth er, p u b lcl i su l V i l l i y n ts o etta an d th ro w s at h er th e m o n ey h e h as w o n at th e g am i g tab l to p ay o ff h i d eb ts. V i l n es s o etta fai ts n i F l ra arm s. E veryo n e i sh o cked b y A l n o s s fred o b eh avi u r an d , to o l s o ate, h e h i sel reg rets th at h e h as acted i th i w ay. m f n s

I th i scen e, F l ra, tw o o th er fri d s (Gasto n an d th e M arq u i d b i n y) n s o en s O g an d D r Gren vi (w h o h as atten d ed V i l l o etta d u ri g h er il ess), to g eth er w i n ln th th e ch o ru s, rep eated l o ffer th ei sym p ath y an d su p p o rt fo r V i l y r o etta. B u t at th e sam e ti e each o f th e m ai ch aracters exp resses h i o r h er o w n m n s th o u g h ts an d feeln g s. V i l i o etta, h avi g reco vered fro m h er fai t, si g s o f n n n h er u n d yi g l ve fo r A l n o fred o an d asks th at so m e d ay h e w il kn o w th e tru th . l H er so n g o f l ve fl ats ab o ve th e m u si al o st i l o o c, m so ated fro m th e g en eral scen e, as ch o ru s an d p ri ci al ch aracters al see V i l n p l o etta d i fferen tl y. Al fred o b i tterl reg rets h i acti n s an d fears th at h e h as l st V i l y s o o o etta fo rever. Germ o n t kn o w s o n l to o w el h i o w n p art i th i sad si ati n an d y l s n s tu o u n d erstan d s V i l o etta su fferi g . T h e B aro n i o u trag ed b y A l s n s fred o s b eh avi u r an d vo w s th at h e w il b e p u n i ed i a d u el o l sh n .

W i so m u ch h ap p en i g at th e sam e ti e o n e m i h t th i k th at th e m u si th n m g n cal resu l w o u l b e ch ao ti b u t th i i n o t so . W e h ave a d raw i g to g eth er o f t d c, s s n 28

th e vari u s stran d s o f feeln g exp eri ced b y th e d i o i en fferen t ch aracters an d , b ecau se w e h ave seen an d u n d ersto o d h o w each ch aracter h as reach ed th ei p resen t p o si o n , i m akes sen se w h en everyo n e exp resses th em sel r ti t ves to g eth er at th i p o i t. T h e w eb o f so u n d p ro vi es a w o n d erfu ly sati n g s n d l sfyi clm ax to th e act w h ie at th e sam e ti e creati g an ai o f su sp en se. W e i l m n r w an t to kn o w w h at h ap p en s n ext.

A CT I I I
E x tra c t 10 ( d d i d el p assato . A ri V i l A o a: o etta) [16c]

A ct I I b eg i s i V i l I n n o etta b ed ro o m . H er il ess h as b eco m e w o rse an d sh e s ln i n o w w eak. S h e i vi ted b y D r Gren vi an d b y A n n i a, h er m ai . T h e s s si l n d d o cto r tels A n n i a th at V i l l n o etta h as b u t a sh o rt ti e to lve. T h e d o cto r m i an d A n n i a l n eave th e ro o m . A l n e, V i l o o etta takes o u t a l etter an d so ftl y read s i al u d . I i fro m Germ o n t an d i i am o n g o th er th i g s, h e tels h er t o t s n t, n l th at A l fred o n o w kn o w s o f th e sacri ce sh e h as m ad e an d w il b e retu rn i g fi l n to b eg h er fo rg i ven ess fo r th e w ay h e h as b eh aved . B u t V i l o etta kn o w s th at sh e h as lttl ti e l an d fears th at A l i e m eft fred o w il b e to o l l ate.

W h ie V i l l o etta i read i g th e l s n etter th ere i an o rch estral acco m p an i en t o f s m q u i y sh i m eri g (trem o l d o ) stri g s w h i i ten si es th e m o o d . etl m n an n ch n fi A b o ve th i acco m p an i en t fl ats a g en tl vi ln m el d y: i i ever b efo re s m o e o i o t s N ...., th e tu n e th at th ro u g h o u t h as b een asso ci ' ated w i A l th fred o l ve fo r s o Vi l o etta. T h e p resen ce o f th e tu n e i th e acco m p an i en t i th e co m p o ser's n m s w ay o f revealn g V i l i o etta's th o u g h ts.

AsVi l o etta fi i es read i g th e l n sh n etter a d ram ati an d ab ru p t i terven ti n b y c n o th e o rch estra j st a si g l ch o rd si n al a retu rn to realty an d to th e u n e g s i h o p el essn ess o f V i l o etta ci m stan ces. s rcu 29

I th e ari th at fo lo w s, V i l n a l o etta si g s th at sh e h as l st everyth i g i h er lfe. n o n n i T h ere are n o l n g er ro ses i h er ch eeks, th ere i n o m o re p l o n s easu re an d , ab o ve al, sh e n o l n g er h as A l l o fred o at h er si e. S h e p rays fo r fo rg i d ven ess as h er lfe d raw s to a cl se. i o

I keep i g w i th e w o rd s th e sh ap e o f th e m el d y at th e b eg i n i g o f each n n th o n n verse i sm o o th an d stil w i o ccasi n al q u i fl rri o f sm al g ro u p s o f s l th o et u es l n o tes (T h i k h o w th i ari co n trasts w i th e sh o w y et m e lve fo r n s a th L i pl easu re' at th e en d o f A ct I T h e p assi n ate p l ). o ead i g fo r fo rg i n ven ess i s so m ew h at m o re d ram ati l exp ressed (an d i cl d es a very b ri caly n u ef excu rsi n i to th e m aj r key fro m th e m i o r). P arti l y b eau ti l i th e o n o n cu arl fu s en d i g o f each verse. T h e m el d y g rad u aly d escen d s to th e w o rd s l i n o l A ls fi i ed b efo re fl ati g u p w ard s to a very q u i h i h n o te at th e en d . n sh o n et g

I th e acco m p an i en t th e sad m o o d o f th e ari i refl n m a s ected i frag m en ts o f n o b o e m el d y fro m ti e to ti e. T h e q u alty o f so u n d p ro d u ced b y th e o m m i o b o e i o ften u sed b y co m p o sers to su g g est sad n ess o r m o u rn i g . s n

30

E x tra c ts 11a a n d 11b

( ari i o cara. D u et: A l P g , fred o an d V i l o etta) [18b ]

Al fred o h as h astiy retu rn ed fro m h i vi t ab ro ad , an d i th i d u et V i l l s si n s o etta an d A l fred o exp ress th ei d elg h t at b ei g to g eth er o n ce m o re. T h ey p l a r i n an fu tu re lvi g q u i y i th e co u n trysi e, aw ay fro m th e h i h lfe o f P ari i n etl n d g i s. T h ey sw ear th at n o th i g w il i terfere w i th e l ve th ey feel fo r each o th er n l n th o an d th e h ap p i ess i b ri g s. A l n t n fred o si g s: n

W h en th e tw o are si g i g to g eth er, n o ti h o w V i l n n ce o etta n o tes are o ften s sep arated fro m each o th er (sem i -staccato ) co m p ared w i th e sm o o th er, th sw eep i g p h rases o f A l n fred o . I V erd i m u si l p o rtrayi g V i l s caly n o etta s b reath l essn ess an d frai co n d i o n co m p ared w i th e stren g th o f A l l ti th fred o ?

31

E x tra c t 12

( ren d i q u est li m ag i e. V i l P , m n o etta an d E n sem b l e) [19]

T h i i th e fi al scen e o f th e o p era. V i l s s n o etta co n d i o n h as w o rsen ed an d s ti w i h er are A l th fred o , Germ o n t, A n n i a an d th e d o cto r. n

Vi l o etta g i ves A l fred o a m ed ali n co n tai i g a p i re o f h er. S o m e d ay, lo nn ctu sh e says, A l fred o w il fal i l ve ag ai an d w il m arry. W h en th at d ay l ln o n l arri ves A l fred o sh o u l g i th e m ed ali n to h i n ew l ve: d ve lo s o 'Gi h er th i lttl p o rtrai say th at i i a g i to h er fro m , o n e w h o , i ve s i e t; t s ft n h eaven am o n g th e an g el p rays fo r h er an d fo r yo u .' s,

Al fred o i d eep l d i rb ed an d p rays th at sh e w il n o t d i Germ o n t i fu l s y stu l e. s l o f g u it fo r th e su fferi g h e h as cau sed V i l l n o etta. H e h as al read y accep ted h er as h i au g h ter an d n o w h e says: s d 'A s l n g as I h ave tears to sh ed , I w il m o u rn fo r yo u .' o l A n n i a an d th e d o cto r ech o th ese w o rd s. B ri y V i l n efl o etta seem s to g ai n n ew stren g th , b u t i i sh o rt-lved an d sh e co lap ses fo r th e l t s i l ast ti e. m

A t th e b eg i n i g o f th e p assag e th e o rch estra very q u i y p l n n etl ays d eep , o m i o u s ch o rd s to a tw i i g rh yth m set ag ai st a b eat th at su g g ests a n tch n n fu n eral m arch . T h ere can b e lttl d o u b t ab o u t w h at i ah ead . B y co n trast i e s th e m o o d i lfted a lttl b y V i l s i i e o etta's sel essn ess as sh e si g s: fl n

32

T h en fo lo w s a b ri en sem b l p assag e i w h i each ch aracter exp resses l ef e n ch h i o r h er th o u g h ts an d feeln g s. s i

A s th e en sem b l en d s, fo r th e l e ast ti e, ab o ve h i h sh i m eri g vi ln s an d m g m n o i vi l (red u ced to j st fo u r p l o as u ayers), w e h ear th e strai s o f A l n fred o 's l ve o th em e p l ayed b y so l vi ln . T h i acco m p an i V i l o o i s es o etta b elef th at sh e i s i s g ai i g stren g th an d , as sh e attem p ts to stan d , th e vo l m e i creases an d nn u n o th er i stru m en ts j i i u n ti th ere i an exp l si n o f so u n d fro m th e fu l n o n n l s o o l o rch estra as V i l o etta co lap ses. T h e o p era en d s an d th e cu rtai fals. l n l

A cti ti vi es
Li sten to extracts fro m th e ari o f A l as fred o , V i l o etta an d Germ o n t. L i sten p arti l y fo r an y d i cu arl fferen ces i th e styl o f m el d y w ri n g . N o ti h o w n e o ti ce V erd i m atch es th e m u si to th e ch aracter to ach i c eve u si m cal ch aracteri sati n . o 33

W h y d o yo u th i k V erd i u ses a ch o ru s i L a travi n n ata? D o esn th e sto ry j st t u i vo l a h an d fu l o f ch aracters? W h at p u rp o se d o es th e ch o ru s serve? n ve W o u l th e sto ry h ave b een to l as effecti y w i o u t th e ch o ru s? W h at d d vel th d o es th e ch o ru s ad d th at w o u l o th erw i h ave b een m i n g ? W o u l th e d se ssi d o p era h ave b een as en tertai i g an d sati n g ? nn sfyi

Li sten to th e P rel d e to A ct I I an d th en , w o rki g i sm al g ro u p s an d u si g u I n n l n w h atever i stru m en ts o r so u n d so u rces are avaiab l create a so u n d n l e, p i re to refl ctu ect th e atm o sp h ere at th e b eg i n i g o f A ct I I n n I. B efo re yo u b eg i , try to i ag i e yo u are p resen t at th e scen e. H o w can n m n yo u exp ress yo u r feeln g s i m u si i n c? H o w w il th e m u si b e w ri l c tten d o w n so th at i can b e p l t ayed o n fu tu re o ccasi n s? o W il yo u u se staff n o tati n o r a g rap h i sco re? R em em b er to m ake cl l o c ear to th e p erfo rm er h o w th e m u si sh o u l b e p l c d ayed .

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P ro d u cti n an d D esi n o g
A ct I
T h i A ct i set i V i l s s n o etta h o u se i P ari s n s.

I th e setti g realsti W h at d o es th e scen e tel u s? D o es V i l s n i c? l o etta lve i a i n sl m ? A re h er fri d s ri o r p o o r? H o w d o yo u kn o w ? W h at are th e u en ch cl es? T h ei cl th es? T h e fu rn i re? T h e co l u rs u sed ? W h at are th e m ai u r o tu o n co l u rs u sed ? o

T h e sto ry takes p l ace i an d n ear P ari aro u n d 1850 . W h at asp ects o f th e n s d esi n h el to create th e sen se o f ti e an d p l g p m ace?

W h at p ro p s are u sed (th at i l o se i s, o tem s su ch as fu rn i re, d ri ki g tu n n gl asses)?

R o u g h l h o w m an y p eo p l are th ere at th e p arty 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , m o re? y e I th e ro o m set o u t as i a n o rm al h o u se? H o w h as th e d esi n er created s n g sp ace i w h i al th ese p eo p l are ab l to m o ve? W h en th ey l n ch l e e eave th e stag e d o th ey al g o o u t th ro u g h th e sam e d o o r? l

H o w i i p o ssi l to reco g n i th e m ai ch aracters? I th ere an yth i g s t b e ze n s n d i n cti ab o u t th ei co stu m es to m ake th em stan d o u t, su ch as co l u r? sti ve r o H o w d o th e ch o ru s react w h en th e m ai ch aracters are si g i g ? n n n

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D o yo u th i k th e m u si an d th e scen ery m atch ? n c

P h o to g rap h : Jo ck M acd o u g al W o o d l

A ct I S cen e 1 I
T h i scen e i set i V i l s s n o etta co u n try h o u se. s

W h at ch an g es h ave taken p l ace? A re an y i tem s o f scen ery u sed w h i ch w ere al i th e fi scen e? A re th e co l u rs si iar? I th e fu rn i re si iar? so n rst o m l s tu m l I th e d esi n o f th e ro o m very d i s g fferen t? A re th e co stu m es th e sam e?

I th ere an y ch an g e i th e lg h ti g ? s n i n

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Germ o n t i A l s fred o fath er an d yet, i real lfe, th e tw o si g ers p erfo rm i g s n i n n th ese ro l m i h t b e very si iar i ag e. H o w i th e i p ressi n o f ag e es g m l n s m o di fferen ce b etw een fath er an d so n created o n stag e? N o ti th e u se o f ce m ake-u p ; th e q u alty o f m o vem en t. i

A ct I S cen e 2 I
I w h at w ays d o es F l ra h o u se resem b l V i l n o s e o etta (as i A ct I I w h at s n )? n w ays i i d i s t fferen t?

F o r p racti p u rp o ses are an y i cal tem s o f scen ery o rro w ed fro m A ct I b ? A re th e co stu m es th e sam e as i A ct I I n o t, w h at d i n ? f fferen ces d o yo u n o ti ce? R o u g h l h o w m an y p eo p l are at th i p arty 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , o r y e s m o re? I th e co stu m es h ave b een ch an g ed , ro u g h l h o w m an y co stu m es f y are n eed ed fo r th i p ro d u cti n o f L a travi s o ata? (T h e p u rp o se i to g ai so m e s n ap p reci o n o f th e m ag n i d e o f th e d esi n er task! ati tu g s )

W h en l e arg n u m b ers o f si g ers are o n n stag e at th e sam e ti e are m th ey al o n th e l sam e l evel ? H o w are th e si g ers n g ro u p ed ? A re al th e m en l to g eth er an d 37
P h o to g rap h o to Jo ck M acd o u g al W o o d l

al th e w o m en ? W h at are th e si iari es an d d i l m l ti fferen ces b etw een an o p era ch o ru s an d a ch o i r?

W h at are th e m ai co l u rs u sed ? A re th ey th e sam e as i A ct I n o n ?

A ct I I I
A m aj r ch alen g e fo r th e d esi n er i h o w to ad ap t th e stag e area avaiab l o l g s l e to create l e p artyi g sp aces i A ct I an d A ct I S cen e 2, b u t al th e arg n n I so i ti ate atm o sp h ere o f V i l n m o etta b ed ro o m . H o w h as th i b een ach i s s eved ? I th e fu l stag e area u sed ? I th e scen e 'realsti ? s l s i c

I th ere an y o n e i s tem o f fu rn i re yo u co n si er to b e p arti l y i p o rtan t tu d cu arl m to th e acti n i th i scen e? I so , w h ere i i p l o n s f s t aced ?

D o es w h at w e see, i term s o f d esi n etc, m atch th e m o o d o f th e sto ry at n g th i p o i t? (T o h el yo u d eci e, l o k at th e co stu m es an d d rap es, th e s n p d o sel ecti n o f fu rn i re, th e m ai co l u rs u sed an d th e l o tu n o evel o f lg h ti g .) i n

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P h o to g rap h : Jo ck M acd o u g al W o o d l

A cti ti vi es
O p era i m ean t to b e seen . H o w ever i teresti g an d exci n g th e m u si i i s n n ti c s t can o n l p ro vi e o n e p art o f an art fo rm th at h as th ree co m p o n en ts: m u si y d c, d ram a an d d esi n . g

L i p arti l exam p l o f i ci en ts o r h ap p en i g s i th e o p era w h i st cu ar es n d n n ch d ep en d o n b ei g seen i o rd er to b e fu ly u n d ersto o d an d ap p reci n n l ated .

I yo u w ere asked to ch o o se a si g l i ag e fro m th e o p era th at w il stay i f n e m l n yo u r m i d , w h at i ag e w o u l yo u sel n m d ect? W h at w o u l i co m p ri d t se? Can yo u g i reaso n s fo r yo u r ch o i ve ce?

W ere th ere an y m o m en ts w h en yo u fel th e m u si o f th e o rch estra an d /o r t c th e effecti u se o f lg h ti g m ad e an esp eci co n tri u ti n to th e d ram ati ve i n al b o c atm o sp h ere?

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T h i reso u rce w as created b y R O H E d u cati n s o

R o yal O p era H o u se E d u cati n o

Di rect T el 0 20 7212 9410 : Di rect fax: 0 20 7212 9441 E m ai: ed u cati n @ ro h .o rg .u k l o W eb si w w w .ro h .o rg .u k/d i ver te: sco

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