Staging Scenes from the Operas of Donizetti and Verdi: A Guide for Directors and Performers
In Staging Scenes from the Operas of Donizetti and Verdi, veteran opera director William Ferrarapresents a detailed, practical exploration of the staging of twenty-one scenes from two of opera’s most beloved composers. He brings to life Donizetti’s delightful comedies, L’Elisir d’amore and Don Pasquale, and guides us throughthe haunted world of Lucia di Lammmermoor. He explores Verdi’s dark themes and imagery in scenes from Rigoletto, and the heartbreaking choices of the characters in La traviata.

With signature comic touches, vivid characters, and dynamic stage action, Ferrara brings tried-and-true techniques as well as lively new ideas to these favorite scenes. Topics include study and research, rehearsal planning, blocking, characterization, ideas for simplified sets and props, and costume design. The introduction to each of the five operas includes a brief description of the story and characters, and suggestions for several different approaches to staging—both traditional and modern. The heart of each chapter is the text and translation of the scene, embedded with line-by-line notes on character, movement, emotion, and interaction. This fresh approach to staging an opera scene by applying insights and ideas directly to the text sparks the student’s dramatic imagination and inspires a deeper understanding of the connection between words and music. In addition, by exploring creative improvisations, exercises and contemporary parallels, young performers are encouraged to build more authentic and dynamic performances.

Intended for college and university voice teachers seeking guidance for developing a scenes program or opera workshop class, this is also the perfect workbook for students studying opera stage direction, as well as graduate and undergraduate students performing opera scenes by Donizetti and Verdi.
"1124480419"
Staging Scenes from the Operas of Donizetti and Verdi: A Guide for Directors and Performers
In Staging Scenes from the Operas of Donizetti and Verdi, veteran opera director William Ferrarapresents a detailed, practical exploration of the staging of twenty-one scenes from two of opera’s most beloved composers. He brings to life Donizetti’s delightful comedies, L’Elisir d’amore and Don Pasquale, and guides us throughthe haunted world of Lucia di Lammmermoor. He explores Verdi’s dark themes and imagery in scenes from Rigoletto, and the heartbreaking choices of the characters in La traviata.

With signature comic touches, vivid characters, and dynamic stage action, Ferrara brings tried-and-true techniques as well as lively new ideas to these favorite scenes. Topics include study and research, rehearsal planning, blocking, characterization, ideas for simplified sets and props, and costume design. The introduction to each of the five operas includes a brief description of the story and characters, and suggestions for several different approaches to staging—both traditional and modern. The heart of each chapter is the text and translation of the scene, embedded with line-by-line notes on character, movement, emotion, and interaction. This fresh approach to staging an opera scene by applying insights and ideas directly to the text sparks the student’s dramatic imagination and inspires a deeper understanding of the connection between words and music. In addition, by exploring creative improvisations, exercises and contemporary parallels, young performers are encouraged to build more authentic and dynamic performances.

Intended for college and university voice teachers seeking guidance for developing a scenes program or opera workshop class, this is also the perfect workbook for students studying opera stage direction, as well as graduate and undergraduate students performing opera scenes by Donizetti and Verdi.
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Staging Scenes from the Operas of Donizetti and Verdi: A Guide for Directors and Performers

Staging Scenes from the Operas of Donizetti and Verdi: A Guide for Directors and Performers

by William Ferrara
Staging Scenes from the Operas of Donizetti and Verdi: A Guide for Directors and Performers

Staging Scenes from the Operas of Donizetti and Verdi: A Guide for Directors and Performers

by William Ferrara

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Overview

In Staging Scenes from the Operas of Donizetti and Verdi, veteran opera director William Ferrarapresents a detailed, practical exploration of the staging of twenty-one scenes from two of opera’s most beloved composers. He brings to life Donizetti’s delightful comedies, L’Elisir d’amore and Don Pasquale, and guides us throughthe haunted world of Lucia di Lammmermoor. He explores Verdi’s dark themes and imagery in scenes from Rigoletto, and the heartbreaking choices of the characters in La traviata.

With signature comic touches, vivid characters, and dynamic stage action, Ferrara brings tried-and-true techniques as well as lively new ideas to these favorite scenes. Topics include study and research, rehearsal planning, blocking, characterization, ideas for simplified sets and props, and costume design. The introduction to each of the five operas includes a brief description of the story and characters, and suggestions for several different approaches to staging—both traditional and modern. The heart of each chapter is the text and translation of the scene, embedded with line-by-line notes on character, movement, emotion, and interaction. This fresh approach to staging an opera scene by applying insights and ideas directly to the text sparks the student’s dramatic imagination and inspires a deeper understanding of the connection between words and music. In addition, by exploring creative improvisations, exercises and contemporary parallels, young performers are encouraged to build more authentic and dynamic performances.

Intended for college and university voice teachers seeking guidance for developing a scenes program or opera workshop class, this is also the perfect workbook for students studying opera stage direction, as well as graduate and undergraduate students performing opera scenes by Donizetti and Verdi.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781442257825
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date: 10/26/2016
Pages: 284
Product dimensions: 6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

William Ferrara is Director of Opera at the University of Oklahoma School of Music. He enjoys an international reputation as a stage director and acting teacher for opera. In his thirty-year career he has directed more than 150 productions of plays, musicals, and operas at colleges and professional theaters across the country and in Italy and South America. He is the author of Staging Scenes from the Operas of Mozart: A Guide for Teachers and Singers (2014).

Table of Contents

List of Figures vii

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

Part I Staging Scenes from Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore (1832): Creating a Village 1

1 Chorus, Bel conforto al mietitore (Giannetta and Villagers) 11

2 Recitative and Duet, Chiedi all'aura lusinghiera (Adina and Nemorino) 17

3 Recitative and Duet, Voglio dire (Nemorino and Dulcamara) 23

4 Recitative, Cam elisir, sei mio! (Nemorino) Scene and Duet, Esulti pur la barbara (Adina and Nemorino) 31

5 Chorus, Saria possibile? (Giannetta and Girls) Quartet, Dell'elisir mirabile (Adina, Giannetta, Nemorino, Dulcamara, and Girls) 39

6 Recitative and Duet, Quanto amove (Adina and Dulcamara) 51

7 Romanza, Una furtiva lagrima (Nemorino) Aria and Duettino, Prendi per me se libero (Adina and Nemorino) 59

Part II Staging Scenes from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor (1835): Incorporating Ideas from the Novel 67

8 Recitative and Cavatina, Regnava nel silenzio (Lucia and Alisa) Recitative and Duet, Sulla tomba che rinserra (Lucia and Edgardo) 77

9 Recitative and Duet, II pallor funesto, orrendo (Normanno, Enrico, and Lucia) 91

10 Recitative and Sextet, Chi mi frena in tal momenta (Lucia, Alisa, Edgardo, Arturo, Enrico, and Raimondo) 103

Part III Staging Scenes from Donizetti's Don Pasquale (1843): Experimenting with Three Different Settings 115

11 Arias, Bella siccome un angelo (Dr. Malatesta with Don Pasquale) Unfoco insolito (Don Pasquale) 123

12 Aria, So anch'io la virtu magica (Norina) Duet, Pronto, io son (Norina and Malatesta) 129

13 Trio, Via, da brava (Norina, Malatesta, and Don Pasquale) 141

14 Serenade and Nocturne, Com'è gentil (Ernesto and Chorus) Duet Tornami a dir che m'ami (Ernesto and Norina) 147

Intermezzo: Improvisations and Exercises 153

Part IV Staging Scenes from Verdi's Rigoletto (1851): Exploring Theme and Imagery 159

15 Duet, Deh, non parlare al misero (Gilda, Rigoletto, and Giovanna) 169

16 Recitative and Duet, Signor ne principe io lo vorrei (Gilda, Duke, and Giovanna) Recitative and Aria, Caro nome (Gilda) 179

17 Recitative and Duet, Tutte le feste al tempio (Gilda and Rigoletto) 187

18 Recitative and Canzone, E I'ami?… La donna è mobile (Gilda, Rigoletto, and Duke) Quartet, Un dì, se ben rammentomi (Duke, Maddalena, Rigoletto, and Gilda) 193

Notes on an Experimental Staging 203

Part V Staging Scenes from Verdi's La traviata (1853): The Actor's Process 207

19 Duet, Un dì felice, eterea (Violetta and Alfredo) Recitative Aria, Ah, fors'è lui che l'anima… Sempre libera (Violetta) 217

20 Scene and Duet, Pure siccome un angelo… Dite alia giovine… Morrò! la mia memoria (Violetta, Germont, Annina, and Giuseppe) 231

21 Scene, Dammi tu forza, o cielo! (Violetta and Alfredo) Recitative and Aria, Di Provenza il mar, il suol (Germont and Alfredo) 247

Observations 255

Recommended Reading 259

Index 261

About the Author 265

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