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Chapter 35
Giuseppe Verdi
Chapter at a Glance
Listen to This First
Melody: Declamatory, Lyrical, Virtuosic
Profile: Giuseppe Verdi (1813 1901)
Expand Your Playlist: Verdi
Word-Music Relationships: Signs of Contemplation, Ecstasy, Love
Connect Your Playlist: Vocal Virtuosity
Expand Your Playlist: The Art of the Diva
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter and listening to the work, students should be able to:
35.2 Describe the ways in which the virtuosic singing in this selection from Giuseppe
La Traviata is motivated by the dramatic situation.
35.5 Listen for the contrasting timbres and melodies of the music sung by Violetta and
Alfredo in the selection.
35.6 Discuss the nature of the diva in culture today.
Key Concepts
integration of recitative and aria, vocal virtuosity, word-music relationships
Chapter Highlight: Vocal Virtuosity
Opera had long provided a venue for singers to demonstrate their technical prowess,
and this tradition con La
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Chapter Summary
This scene from Act I of La Traviata exemplifies a range of human emotion. Violetta is a
courtesan who is dying of tuberculosis and knows that she will not live long. In this
scene she considers whether to leave her life of freedom for a monogamous relationship.
vocal range, the intensity, and the gamut moving from recitative into a
virtuosic show of technical skill are overwhelming. Later in the excerpt, Alfredo joins
Violetta musically (he is not in the same space but below her balcony), singing the music
Listening Guide
Students can prepare to listen for the three styles of singing by listening to the excerpts
in the textbook (the audio glossary sections). They should pay special attention to how
Verdi uses each style to express the psychological moment that accompanies the text.
ct singing styles in this selection.
MyMusicLab Resources
Automated Listening Guide: Giuseppe Verdi: La Traviata, Act I, selection
Chapter Audio: Chapter 35
Online Module: Opera
Discussion Topics and Critical Thinking Questions
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1. Discuss the emotional roller coaster that the role of Violetta implies. What kind of
challenges would the role have, not only for the singing part, but also for the acting?
2. If you did not know the translation of the text, do you think you would understand
something of the scene? Why or why not?
3. Verdi remains an extremely popular figure with Italians today they have even
commemora
remains popular?
4. Consider the accompaniment to this excerpt. What is the role of the orchestra? Do
orchestra members play in strict time? How do you think the conductor and soloists
achieve synchronicity in a live performance, considering the changing nature of the
meter?
Activities and Exercises
2. Aida in terms of nationalism, racism, and slavery. How were these
topics relevant in the nineteenth century?
Journaling Prompt
identity (think pizza commercials) or romance you have heard it in advertisements,
movies, and other forms of media. What elements of his music make it so frequently
used for these types of ventures?