28503 - Musical Dramaturgy (LM)

Learning outcomes

Basic skills in the field of musical dramaturgy:

- how to read an opera libretto; how to grasp its poetic, dramatic, theatrical structure;

- how to read an operatic score; how to grasp its poetic-musical, dramatic, theatrical structure;

- the outline of the history of opera, esp. of Italian opera

Course contents

W.A. Mozart, Così fan tutte (1790)

12 Nov 2015 - 14 Jan 2016

Tuesday, 3-5 p.m.; Thursday, 5-7 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Department of the Arts, via Barberia 4, Aula Donatoni (first floor)

Readings/Bibliography

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Assessment methods

Interview.

Candidates are expected to know Mozart's Così fan tutte plus at least one ITALIAN opera from the standard canon, from the 17th to the 20th century (Mozart excepted).
More specific bibliographic references will be supplied during classes.

The ‘knowledge' of these operas implies:

(1) an analytic reading of its libretto (metrical, poetic, narratological, dramatic structure);

(2) listening repeatedly to audio and/or video recording(s) of Così fan tutte as well as of the other opera selected for the interview, with the libretto at hand (better: with the libretto and with the orchestral or vocal score at hand, alternatively!);

(3) a general acquaintance with the profile of Mozart as an opera composer.

For the basics on Italian verse and meter, see http://www.dar.unibo.it/it/attivita-didattica/supporti-alla-didattica/appunti-di-metrica (with suggestions for further reading at the end of the .ppt).

Students are expected to be acquainted with the outline of the history of Italian opera from the 17th to the 20th century:
- L. Bianconi, Il teatro d'opera in Italia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1993 (in English as entry ‘Italy' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, vol. 2, ed. S. Sadie, London, Macmillan, 1992, pp. 837-860)
or, as an alternative:
- G. de Van, L'opera italiana, Rome, Carocci, 2002 (also available in French).

The candidate is expected to bring with him/her the librettos of both operas selected for the interview.

Teaching tools

Have a look at these sites (not specific for this year's courses, but nevertheless useful as orientation!):

- Carl Dahlhaus, Le strutture temporali nel teatro d'opera:

http://www.dar.unibo.it/it/attivita-didattica/supporti-alla-didattica/drammaturgia-musicale

- A glossary for Musical Dramaturgy:

http://www.dar.unibo.it/it/attivita-didattica/supporti-alla-didattica/drammaturgia-musicale

- Foundations of Italian metrics:

http://www.dar.unibo.it/it/attivita-didattica/supporti-alla-didattica/appunti-di-metrica

- Hints for the analysis of operatic scores:

http://www.dar.unibo.it/it/attivita-didattica/supporti-alla-didattica/drammaturgia-musicale

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Gennaro Bianconi