Mozart’s Operas: Drama and Music
Music 431-77
Summer 2008
Instructor:
Dr. Ann Rhodes
(ann_rhodes@berea.edu)
Address:
Berea College
CPO #2194
Berea, KY 40404
Phone:
[859] 985-3461/3463 (office)
[859] 986-7322 (home)
Meeting Time:
MTWHF Morning
Course Objectives and Goals: This course is designed as an historical survey and history of Mozart and
his operas: his life, an historical perspective of the classical period and the Enlightenment, and his
operatic style: characteristics and context during the early phases of his operatic composition (Die
Schuldigkeit des ersten Gegots, Apollo et Hyacinthus, and La finta semplice) through his final operatic
compositions (Le nozze di Figaro, Cosi fan Tutte, La clemenza di Tito, and Die Zauberflöte) and the
significance of opera in Mozart’s career. In addition to a general survey of Mozart’s operas, students will
study the history and context of the specific operas including the Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Le nozze
di Figaro, and Don Giovanni), the plots and characters; libretti, instrumentation, musical composition,
and formal structure. This course will also provide an historical perspective, a necessary prerequisite for
musical scholarship which can provide insight into the performance and teaching of the musical literature
that is part of our rich musical heritage.
Course Credit: One course credit (3 course hours)
Goals of this Course: The primary goal of this course is to familiarize students with Mozart’s operas and
their historical context in the classical period. We will examine these operas through lectures, specific
readings, listening to specific examples, and by viewing videos of specific operas that are representative
of Mozart’s contribution to the classical operatic genre.
Students will:
1. become familiar with the historical background, plot, characters, and music of several popular
Mozart operas and will be able to write reaction papers to these portrayals
2. learn about character development in order to be able to understand the character’s portrayal
in the music of a particular scene, and to understand the portrayal of the operatic character in
specific operas
3. experience viewing videos of several operas and write critical reviews of these performances
4. experience a live performance of a Mozart opera
5. research one other opera in a group project culminating in a group presentation at the end of
the course.
MUS 431-77, 2
Required Texts:
Rushton, Julian
The New Grove Guide to Mozart
and His Operas
ISBN 978-0-19-531318-5
www.oup.com/us
www.amazon.com
Gay, Peter
Mozart
ISBN: 978-014-303773-6
www.labarinthbooks.com
www.amazon.com
Reserve Readings:
Handouts:
TBA
Books:
DaPonte and Mozart
Osborne, Charles. The Complete Operas of Mozart
Brown, Bruce Allen: Cosi fan Tutte
Rushton, Julian. Don Giovanni
Bauman, Thomas. Die Entführung aus dem Serail
Carter, Tim. Le nozze di Figaro
Branascombe, ----. Die Zauberflöte
Libretti & Scores:
Cosi fan Tutte
Don Giovanni
Die Entführung aus dem Serail
Le nozze di Figaro
Die Zauberflöte
Course Requirements and Evaluations:
Opera Reviews: (2)
Live performance
1 video
Reaction papers: (3)
Reading responses:
Quizzes: (2)
Opera Synopses (3)
Assignment (TBA)
Research
Group presentation
200 points
150 points
100 points
200 points
75 points
50 points
125 points
100 points
1000 points
Attendance: Attendance is required except for sickness or an emergency.
Course Outline
week 1
June 2:
Mon.
Introduction to course
What is opera: excerpts, scenes
Amadeus excerpts
Read: Gay: Chapter 1; pp. 1-24
June 3:
Tues.
Mozart: life and style
Video: A&E biography
Assign: short paper on Classicism/Enlightenment
Read: Gay: Chapter 2: pp. 25-44; Chapter 3: pp. 45-65
June 4:
Wed.
Mozart: Operas and Context
Read: Rushton: pp. 3-16; Gay: Chapter 4: pp. 64-86
June 5:
Thurs.
Classicism, Enlightenment
Due: short paper
In Search of Mozart
Read: Gay: Chapter 5: pp. 87-98
June 6:
Fri.
IN Search of Mozart
Read: Gay: pp. 99-119; Rushton: pp. 3-16; 16-26
FILM: Enightenment
June 7-8
Sat.-Sun.
Free Days: weekend
`
week 2
June 9
Mon.
Mozart: early operas: scenes, excerpts
Bastien und Bastienne (Video excerpts)
Milan Operas: Asconio in Alba, Il sogno di Scipione,
Lucio Silla, La finyta semplice
Read: Gay: pp. 123-131; Rushton: 16-26; 29-33
June 10
Tues.
Middle period: La finta giardiniera, Il re pastore,
Thomas,König in Aegypten, Zaide, Idomeneo
Video excerpts
Read: Rushton: pp. 34-43
June11
Wed.
Early Vienna: L’oco del Cairo, Lo sposo deluso,
Die Entführung aus dem Serail: VIDEO
Read: Rushton: 65-75; Handouts
June 12
Thurs.
Die Entführung aus dem Serail
VIDEO
June 13
Analysis: Discussion
In class writing
Fri.
MUS 431-77, 3
June 14-15
Sat.-Sun
Free Days: weekend
week 3
June 16
Mon.
QUIZ #1
Der Schauspieldirektor VIDEO
Opera buffa
Read: Rushton: pp. 76-77
June 17
Tues.
Da Ponte Operas: Le nozze di Figaro
VIDEO
Read: Rushton: pp. 78-86; Gay: Chapter: 7-8: pp. 120-163
June 18-June 20
Long Weekend
June 21
Sat. PM
Le nozze di Figaro
VIDEO
Read: Handouts
June 22
Sun. PM
Le nozze di Figaro: Analysis
In class writing
Opera buffa, Opera Structure
Cosi fan Tutte: VIDEO
Read: Rushton: pp. 96-103
week 4
June 23:
Mon.
Cosi fan Tutte VIDEO
Read: Handouts
June 24:
Tues.
Quiz #2
Discussion/reaction
Other operas: Don Giovanni
La Clemenza di Tito, Die Zauberflöte
Read: Rushton: pp. 87-95; 104-119
June 25:
Wed.
Other operas continued
Discussion: The Performers; The Cities
Rushton: pp. 149-185 and 189-204
June 26
Thurs.
Peter Sellars: VIDEO
Modern settings of Mozart
June 27
Fri.
Free Day
MUS 431-77, 5
week 5
June 28
Sat. PM
Peter Sellars: Modern Staging
Other Video excerpts
Reaction paper due
Final Presentations Begin
June 29
Sun. PM
Final Presentations
June 30
Mon.
Final Evaluations of course and program
July 1
Sat.
Home To USA
Bon Voyage / Gute Reise