Music+-+What+to+Listen+For

Bellini composed passionate, melodious, and lyrical music. His vocal music helped bring about the style of opera known as [|bel canto] ("beautiful singing").

__** YOUR TASK (two parts): **__ //La tremenda ultrice spada// occurs in Act 1 Scene 1 (see below CD 1 Track 11) Oh! quante volte occurs in Act 1 Scence 2 (see below CD 1 Track 13)
 * 1.** Use the following link to listen to two musical excerpts from this opera. Post your thoughts about the music to the discussion. Also reply to others. You may do so by clicking on the discussion tab above. [|Listen to the Opera Excerpts]

** ACT 1 ** __CD 1 Track 1__ Trumpets and tympani announce the opening of the opera. Listen for the repeated phrases, suddenly changing dynamics, and chordal accompaniment to the melody.
 * 2.** Sign out the listening CD. Listen to the singers' breath control, beautiful tone, agile leaps and scales, and dynamic variation. Post your thoughts about the music to the discussion. **//__NOTE:__//** CD Tracks are from the EMI Classics recording, featuring Janet Baker (Romeo), Beverly Sills (Giulietta), Robert Lloyd (Capellio), Nicolai Gedda (Tebaldo), and Raimund Herincx (Lorenzo). Conducted by Giuseppe Patanè with the New Philharmonia Orchestra.

__CD 1 Track 2__ The Capulets, who are followers of the Guelphs, a political party supporting an Italian papacy, gather before dawn in the Capellio palace. They mention the hatred and ongoing feud between the Capuletes and the Montagues, who are Ghilbellines, the party that defended the German Holy Roman Emperors. Think...How does Bellini represent the hatred in the music? How does he suggest dawn?

__CD 1 Track 4__ Tebaldo swears that he will avange the death of Capellio's son as soon as his marriage to Giulietta occurs. Listen...This [|cavatina] is not an elaborate aria.

__CD 1 Track 15__ In this duet, Romeo and Juliet describe how their separation brings unbearable torment. Giulietta is torn between her love for Romeo, who wants her to escape with him, and her sense of honor and duty to her father.

__CD 2 Track 5__ In this quintet, each of the five expresses individual emotions: Romeo and Giulietta ask Heaven to protect the other, Tebaldo and Capellio ask the night to cover the Capulets' shame, and Lorenzo is horrified.
 * ACT II**

__CD 2 Track 7__ Giulietta sings alone, not sure whether the Capulets won the battle the night before, or if Romeo was hurt. Mournful strings introduce the melody, then Giulietta expresses her anguish.

__CD 2 Track 11__ In this recitative, Romeo waits in vain for Lorenzo to arrive at their agreed-upon meeting place. The clarinet introduces a plaintive tune, expressing how Romeo feels abandoned.

__CD 2 Track 17__ Romeo insists on being left alone in the tomb so he can weep over Giulietta's body.