Paul F. Zweifel

Opera Literature Music 4124 First meeting of this class: Jan. 19, 2010
Instructor: Paul Zweifel http://pzweifel.com email: zweifel@alumni.duke.edu tel: 540-639-1295 cell: 540-230-1150
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The class will meet 15 Tuesday afternoons from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in Squires Recital Salon and 3 Wednesday evenings from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in Squires 162 (Choral rehearsal room). We will study six operas in detail, watching videos and discussing the musical, dramatic, historical and/or literary attributes of each. We will also talk about the art form of opera in general, startng with Greek drama and working up to the 21st century. The class period following the completion of each opera studied, each student will be required to turn in a short (1-2 page) critique of the opera. Do not simply rehash the plot, but rather attempt to give some insight into the dramatic, musical or literary-historical background of the work. The last six class periods and, if needed, the final exam period will be devoted to presentations by students of an opera not already covered in the class. Teams of students will be formed to work together on an approximately one-hour presentation. The instructor will provide a list of operas from which to choose, and will also provide videos and, if desired, assistance in preparation. Or the students can choose their own favorite opera, if a video is available.
Grading: 30% class participation (discussion) 30% critiques 40% final presentation.
Repertoire: L'Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi Don Giovanni by W.A. Mozart Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi Romeo et Juliette by Charles Gounod Salome by Richard Strauss Dr. Atomic by John Adams Texts: Ticket to the Opera by Phil. G. Goulding. (Fawcett books). Libretti: The libretti of the following operas are available online: L'Orfeo: http://www.opera-guide.ch/libretto.php?id=226&uilang=de&lang=en (English only) Rigoletto: http://www.opera-guide.ch/libretto.php?id=394&uilang=de&lang=en (English only) Romeo et Juliette http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/romeo.htm (French only. Sorry.) Dr. Atomic http://www.scribd.com/doc/7817182/Doctor-Atomic-Libretto The libretti for Salome and Don Giovanni are available from amazon.com at reasonable prices.
You are expected to have learned the story of the operas before they are studied in class. The libretti will be useful for this. In addition, Wikepedia gives stories of all the operas. Simply Google the name of the opera and the Wikepedia website will appear. In addition there will be a handout of an unpublished article on Don Giovanni written by the instructor. Also, the following webpages will be useful: Salome 1. Salome 2. Romeo et Juliette. Don Giovanni. Rigoletto







CLASS SCHEDULE (RS=Recital Salon; 162=Squires 162, Choral rehearsal room) Tuesday Jan. 19 (RS) Welcome, Pictures. What is opera? Why is opera? Mjusical examples. Monody, organum, polyphony. Bel canto, da capo arias, cabalette, motifs, etc. Arias and recitative. Tuesday, Jan. 26 (RS) L'Orfeo First part. 55 min. Lecture and discussion, 65 min. Tuesday, Feb. 2. (RS) Class canceled. Weather. (L'Orfeo was completed Jan. 26, a week ahead of scheule.) Tuesday, Feb. 9. (RS) Critique of L'Orfeo due. Don Giovanni. First part, 90 min. Discussion 30 min. Tuesday Feb. 16. (RS) Don Giovanni. Second part. 90 min. Discussion 30 min. Tuesday, Feb. 23. (RS) Critique of Don Giovanni due. # Romeo. First part. 90 min. Discussion 30 min. Tuesday, Mar. 2. (RS) Romeo. Second part. 90 min. Discussion 30 min. Tuesday, Mar. 9. Spring Break, Tuesday, Mar. 16. (RS) Critique of Romeo due. Rigoletto. First part. 55 min. Discussion 60 min. Tuesday, Mar. 23 (RS) Rigoletto. Second part. 65 min. Discussion 50 min. Tuesday, Mar. 30 (RS) Critique of Rigoletto due. Salome 100m min.. Discussion 15 min. Tuesday, Apr. 6. (RS) Continue discussion of Salome. 20 minutes. Lecture introduction to Dr. Atomic. 20 minutes. Dr. Atomic video 80 minutes. Tuesday Apr. 13. (RS) Critique of Salome due. # Dr. Atomic video 85 minutes. Discussion 35 minutes. Tuesday April 20, 27 and May 4. (RS) Critique of Dr. Atromic due April 20. Student presentations. Wednesday Aporil 21, 28 and May 5. (162) Student presentations. # indicates visiting professor for this class. Mrs. McDuffie