MU111 - Romantic Opera

Giuseppe Verdi

One of the most popular opera composers and an active political figure. His works are still relevant today.

Verdi’s Political Activities

Led a movement for a united Italy. His arias and choruses have a nationalistic feeling and text. He was elected to Italy’s first parliament (1881) and its senate (1874).

Purpose of nationalism during the Romantic era

Expressed personal identities, and through the expression of nationalistic ideas, the identity of the composer can be heard.

Verdi’s Most Popular Arias include…

Rigoletto, La Traviata (The Fallen Woman), Aida, Otello. All librettos were adopted from stories by Shakespeare, Dumas, and Schiller. 

Achievements of Verdi’s Operas

Believable characters. His arias blended well into the action. The orchestra interludes are highly expressive, contributing to the mood of the entire work.

Richard Wagner

A significant German composer who held various positions as an opera conductor. He had a direct influence on Adolf Hitler, and suggested to him to have concentration camps. Involved in the Austro-Hungarian conflict. Hitler adored and worshipped Wagner’s music.

King Ludwig of Bavaria “Mad” King

Much of Wagner’s success is attributed to this fan. King Ludwig was obsessed with Wagner’s storylines (a cave and underground lake modeled after a Wagnerian opera). 

Wagner’s Writings

He wrote a “total artwork” (Gesamtkunstwerk). Wagner called his opera music drama (drama, music, costumes, and a wonderful story). Focused not on the total entertainment. He wrote his own librettos (The Ring of the Nibelung cycle of 4 operas lasts 18 hours).

Wagner’s Beliefs

He was anti-Semitic. In the pamphlet Das Judentum in der Musik (Jewishness in Music-1850) Wagner describes the conventional image (the Jew shuffles and blinks, is scheming and argumentative, and is not to be trusted). Hitler was infatuated by him.

Hitler’s favorite composer

Wagner. Not only Hitler’s favorite composer, but also his life inspiration. Hitler wrote, “At twelve, I saw… the first opera of my life, Lohengrin. In one instant, I was addicted…”

Wagner and WW2

Hitler required Wagner’s music to be blared over the loudspeakers at concentration camps during WWII. Wagner’s music is still ceremonially banned in Israel today.

Leitmotif

Guiding or leading motive. A short musical theme associated with a person, idea, or object. An example would be Star Wars and its theme. Wagner uses this in his complicated stories to keep the audience entertained and understanding of the complex work.