MUS 106 Opera (Not offered 2006-2007; to be offered 2007-2008)
An introduction to the history of opera, from the genre's birth c. 1600 to the
present. At various points in its 400-year development, opera has been
considered the highest synthesis of the arts, a vehicle for the social elite, or a
form of popular entertainment. Opera's position in European cultural history
will be a primary focus of our inquiry. We will also study the intriguing
relationship between text and music, aspects of performance and production,
and the artistic and social conventions of the operatic world. The
multidimensional nature of opera invites a variety of analytical and critical
perspectives, including those of music analysis, literary studies, feminist
interpretations, and political and sociological approaches. Works to be
considered include operas by Monteverdi, Lully, Charpentier, Handel, Gluck,
Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi, Wagner, Bizet, Puccini, Strauss, Berg, Britten,
and Glass. This course may involve a trip to the Metropolitan Opera.
Format: lecture/discussion. Evaluation will be based on a midterm, a brief paper,
a 10-page paper, and a final exam.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 35.