Opera Vocab
Sung conversation between characters to help advance the story line.
What is recitative?
A dramatic stage form that combines the arts of acting and singing.
What is a broadway musical?
This is where the first operas originated.
Where is Italy?
The colorful lifestyle of a carefree people who once roamed central Europe. A metaphor for the lifestyle of romantic, young, and usually poor artistic people.
What is the bohemian lifestyle?
The amount of time that Valjean was in prison was 19 years for committing this crime.
What is stealing a loaf of bread?
A style of Opera with realistic portrayals of everyday life.
What is verismo?
Spoken lines of a play or musical show.
What is dialogue?
Name three musicals, that were listed in the book, that were adapted into movies.
West Side Story, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Cabaret, and Chicago
Tuberculosis was replaced by this disease in the transition from La Boheme to RENT.
What is HIV/AIDS?
Les Misérables was based on this book by French Author Victor Hugo.
What is Les Misérables?
Songs for a solo singer and orchestra.
What are arias?
Stage play with songs and danced interspersed with spoken lines.
What is an operetta?
An opera from 1786, written by Mozart, was popular enough to advance opera buffa or comic opera into the mainstream.
What is Le Nozze di Figaro? (The Marriage of Figaro)
Three of the characters from La Boheme and their counterparts in RENT.
Potential answers:
Mimi/Mimi, Rodolfo/Rodger, Marcello/Mark, Musetta/Maureen, Schaunard/Angel, Colline/Collins, Benoit/Benny, Alcindoro/Joanne.
Describe the story of Fantine and the song she sang.
This character worked at a factory before getting fired by a foreman, sold everything she possessed to help her daughter before dying of an illness and asking Valjean to take care of her daughter. She also sang the song "I Dreamed a Dream."
The text of an opera, including dialogue and lyrics.
What is libretto?
An early staged variety show that included songs, dances, and comedy skits.
What is vaudeville?
Opera is the plural form of this Latin word that translates to "works of art."
What is opus?
La Boheme was based off of this book by Henri Murger.
What is Scenes from a Bohemian Life?
This is what former criminals wear to show the whole world they are ex-cons.
What is a yellow ticket?
Also known as Comic opera, this style has more down-to-earth level stories that were more contemporary and worldly.
What is opera buffa?
An inventory of compositions mastered and performed by a musician.
What is repertoire?
In 1970, these two countries made creative and important contributions to musical theater. Such as the musicals Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, and Les Misérables.
Who are Great Britain and France?
The different styles of music in "One Song Glory," "Santa Fe," and "Seasons of Love."
What are Rock, Blues, and Gospel?
Name four songs from Les Misérables.
Options include:
"What Have I Done"
"I Dreamed a Dream"
"On My Own"
"Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"
A serious form of opera with lofty heroic themes from history and mythology.
What is opera seria?
A dramatic speech or song delivered by one character in a play.
What is a monologue?
This composer romanticized the verismo style of opera and composed La Boheme.
Who is Giacomo Puccini?
The name of the duet sung by Mimi and Rodolfo when Mimi dies in his arms.
What is "Sono Andati?"
Why the revolution failed at the barricade.
What is the people did not join the fight, causing the students to be overrun by the French army?
The feeling of sympathetic pity or compassion for a character.
What is pathos?
A short musical idea that is easily remembered and helps unify a composition.
What is motive?
The first composer of a Broadway Musical wrote his first how in 1904. Name the composer and his show.
Who are George M. Cohan and Little Johnny Jones?
What is the importance of living life fully, and holding on to love and friendship?
Describe the story of Valjean, and the changes to his character.
1. He was a criminal for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread.
2. After being released, he lived with a Bishop but stole silver from him to help his sister's child.
3. After the bishop gave him grace, Valjean decided to change his life, his name, and became mayor of a small town in Paris.
4. He met Fantine, saving her from Javert and vowed to take care of Cosette when Fantine.
5. Saved Cosette from an the Thenadiers and fled to Paris
6. Fought in the failed revolution and saved Javert and Marius
7. Died of old age after blessing Cosette and Marius' marriage