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Chapter 24
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Marriage of Figaro
Chapter at a Glance
Listen to This First
Word-Music Relationships: The Character of Each Voice
Contrasting Melodies
Dramatic Form, Musical Form
Connect Your Playlist: Simultaneous Contrasting Melodies
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter and listening to the work, students should be able to:
24.2 Listen for the contrasting dramatic qualities of the voices and melodic styles of the three characters.
24.4 Listen for the recurring themes as related to the text being sung.
24.7 Distinguish the different characters by their voice types and melodic styles.
Key Concepts
opera, drama through music, relationship of dramatic and musical structures, accompanied recitative
Chapter Highlight: Comic Opera
Opera remained the most prestigious and lucrative genre throughout the Classical Era and inspired some
of its greatest music. In addition to providing entertainment, the opera also served as a kind of pressure–
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Chapter Summary
The Marriage of Figaro Cosa sento
enhance dramatic text, and text can enrich the music. The plot, a libretto written by
Listening Guide
Students will notice that this Listening Guide is substantially longer than those in
previous chapters, which is one way to show that Mozart has combined several
characters in a single scene. Most Listening Guides in Listen to This! begin with the
MyMusicLab Resources
Automated Listening Guide: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro, Act 1,
Connect Your Playlist: Simultaneous Contrasting Melodies
Discussion Topics and Critical Thinking Questions
1. In which European country did the plot for The Marriage of Figaro originate? What
are the political or cultural implications of this story? Given the proximity in time to
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2.
3. Discuss the change from Baroque-style opera to classical opera buffa or comic opera.
Consider the mythological subjects of Baroque opera, eighteenth-
Activities and Exercises
1. What information
will be needed to promote the event?
2. Attend a live performance of The Marriage of Figaro or, as a class, watch a DVD
3. Assign students to write programs for the opera. What background information will
be needed for the programs?
Journaling Prompt
Mozart assigns specific types of singing styles to different characters in his operas. Do you associate voice