From Class Today - The Romantic Period of Music

 Guiseppe Verdi
1813 - 1901


 1813 – Born near Busseto (Northern Italy) on October 10
 1832 – Tries to enter Milan Conservatory, but is rejected – studies privately instead
 1839 – First Opera performed in La Scala in Milan
 1840’s – Establishes reputation in Italy with operatic successes: Nabucco, Macbeth, Luisa Miller
 1850’s and 1860’s – International Fame with Rigoletto (1851) Il Trovatore (1853) La Traviata (1853) and Don Carlos (1867)
 1871 – Premiere of Aida commissioned for the opening of the Suez Canal in Cairo
 1887 – Comes out of retirement to write two operas on Shakespearean themes: Otello and Falsatff (1893)
 1901 – Dies in Milan on January 27

Rigoletto Cast
 Rigoletto, the Duke's jester - (baritone)
 Gilda, his daughter - (soprano)
 Duke of Mantua - (tenor)
 Sparafucile, an assassin - (bass)
 Maddalena, his sister - (contralto)
 Giovanna, Gilda's Nurse - (mezzo-soprano)
 Count Ceprano - (bass)
 Countess Ceprano, his wife - (mezzo-soprano)
 Matteo Borsa, a courtier - (tenor)
 Count Monterone - (baritone)
 Marullo - (baritone)


Richard Wagner
 born in Leipzig, Germany in 1813
 he did not master the playing of an instrument – he learned to compose by listening
 not a very good financial manager – constantly in debt – liked living in luxury and privilege – “I can’t live on a miserable organist’s pittance like Bach…”
 he developed a new “German” style of Opera, before which the Italian Opera style had predominated
 Critics constantly attacked his bold experiments in music, calling him a “vandal,” “charlatan,” and melody-hating maniac.”
 he created the leitmotif, a musical theme woven into the rest of the score that helps identify a particular character or episode
 Tannhauser, The Flying Dutchman, Tristan and Isolde, Lohengrin, Die Meistersinger, and The Ring of the Nibelugnen
 Wagner died in Venice, Italy in 1883
 He was buried at Bayreuth
 Wagner gave shape to the desire of the Romantic era for the closest possible connection between music and dramatic expression
 He did away with “arias, duets, choruses, etc. His aim was a continuous flow of music. There was no distinction between “recitative” and “aria;” Rather, there was endless melody…

Tristan und Isolde

Music and Text by Richard Wagner (1813 –1883)
 Tristan, a Cornish Knight, King Mark’s Nephew (TENOR)
 Isolde, an Irish princess (SOPRANO)
 King Mark of Cornwall (BASS)
 Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful attendant (BARITONE)
 Brangaene, Isolde’s faithful attendant (MEZZO SOPRANO)
 Melot, a Cornish Courtier (TENOR)
 A Shepherd (TENOR)
 A Sailor (TENOR)
 A Helmsman (BARITONE)
 Time: Legendary
 Place: Cornwall, Brittany, and the sea between
 First Performance: Munich June 10, 1865