MUSI2104 19th Century Italian Opera: Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi

Module Aims

- familiarise you with the dominant authors, genres, and trends of 19th-century Italian opera from the 1800s to the 1860s - give you an in-depth knowledge of the world of Italian opera, its socio-economical ramifications, and the role of impresarios, composers, librettists, singers, critics, publishers, and political authorities in shaping that world - generate an understanding of primary sources, editorial approaches, and of the complex interplay between ‘text’ and ‘performance’ at the verbal, musical, and visual levels - develop your acquaintance with a range of trends and methodologies in current opera studies

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the processes of creation, production, dissemination, and reception of Italian opera in the 19th century
• the careers and historical significance of Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, and Giuseppe Verdi, and their relations with their musical and social environments
• the formal, stylistic, and textual features of a number of contrasting Italian operas from the early- and mid-19th century

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• communicate coherently your knowledge and critical perception of subjects related to 19th-century Italian opera with your peers and others
• research and interpret primary and secondary sources
• present your knowledge and ideas in persuasive written prose
• impart the results of your research with a secure handling of appropriate apparatus (footnotes, bibliography, examples)

Cognitive Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• comment perceptively on the social, intellectual, and political forces that shaped the culture of opera in 19th-century Italy
• demonstrate confidence in handling the multi-layered notion of operatic text
• appreciate opera performances with a developed understanding of their status as (and relation to) ‘texts’