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Entertainment

Cultural Fun in 1900

Name: ______________________________ Period: 1 2 5 6 8

Part One: Entertainment in 1900Section A: Homework CheckFor homework, you needed to write two to three sentence summary of each opera. Choose one opera and write your summary below:

Section B: Entertainment TodayWhat is entertainment today?

Unit 5, Class 14 & 15

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Section C: Viking Hats and Long Notes!Why is opera boring? How are operas like broadway musicals?

Section D: Plots, Plots, Plots!What are the themes in the following operas?

Operas by Guiseppe Verdi:Aida, Rigoletto, La Traviata

Operas by Richard Wagner:Gotterdammerung, Lohengrin

Operas byGeorge Bizet: Carmen; Charles Gounod: FaustGioachino Rossini: Barber of Seville

Operas by Gilbert and Sullivan:HMS Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado

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Part Two: 1900 All Around YouSection A: Operas All Around YouChoose One: Gilbert and Sullivan

Wagner

Rossini

Section B: Some of the most notable:La TaviataThe duet is performed in the first act of the opera, at Violetta Valéry’s house, and it is sung by Alfredo Germont and Violetta. Alfredo is a young man in love with Violetta. The scene is a late-night party at Violetta’s house. Alfredo is convinced by Gastone (Alfredo’s friend) and Violetta to show off his voice. He sings this Libiamo ne’lieti calici.

Old Italian English[Alfredo] Libiamo, libiamo ne’lieti calici [Alfredo] Let’s drink, let’s drink from this merry chaliceche la belleza infiora. that beauty so truly enhancesE la fuggevol, fuggevol ora s’inebrii a voluttà. And the brief moment will be happily intoxicated with voluptuousnessLibiam ne’dolci fremiti che suscita l’amore, Let’s drink for the ecstatic feeling that love arousespoiché quell’ochio al core onnipossente va. Because this eye aims straight to the almighty heartLibiamo, amore, amor fra i calici Let’s drink, my love, and the love among the chalicespiù caldi baci avrà. will make the kisses hotter

[Coro] I calici più caldi baci avrà [Chorus] The chalices will make the kisses hotterI calici più caldi baci avrà The chalices will make the kisses hotter [Violetta] Tra voi tra voi saprò dividere [Violetta] With you all, I can share il tempo mio giocondo; my happiest timesTutto è follia, follia nel mondo ciò che non è piacer. Everything in life which is not pleasure is foolishGodiam, fugace e rapido Let’s enjoy ourselvese’il gaudio dell’amore, for the delight of love is fleeting and quicke’un fior che nasce e muore, It’s like a flower that blooms and diesne più si può goder. And we can no longer enjoy itGodiamo, c’invita, c’invita un fervido So enjoy; A keen and flatteringaccento lusighier. voice invites us! [Coro] [Chorus]Godiamo, la tazza, la tazza e il cantico, Be happy; The wine and singingla notte abbella e il riso; beautify both the night and the laughterin questo, in questo paradiso ne scopra il nuovo dì. Let the new day find us in this paradise [Violetta] La vita è nel tripudio [Violetta] Life means celebration[Alfredo] Quando non s’ami ancora. [Alfredo] Only if one hasn’t known love[Violetta] Nol dite a chi l’ignora, [Violetta]Don’t tell someone who doesn’t know[Alfredo]E’il mio destin così... [Alfredo] But that seems to be my fate... [Tutti] Godiamo, la tazza, la tazza e il cantico, [All] Be happy; The wine and singingla notte abbella e il riso; beautify both the night and the laughterin questo, in questo paradiso ne scopra il nuovo dì. Let the new day find us in this paradise

RigolettoLa donna è mobile is [sung by] the cynical Duke of Mantua. Rigoletto ( the Duke’s jester) and hi daughter, Gilda, who still loves the Duke, arrive outside the room the Duke is in. The Duke’s voice can be heard -- La donna è mobile -- laying out the infidelity and fickle nature of women. The inherent irony, of course, is that it is the callous playboy Duke himself who is mobile (“inconstant”).

Original ItalianQual piuma al vento,Muta d’accento — e di pensiero.Sempre un amabile,Leggiadro viso,In pianto o in riso, — è menzognero.

English TranslationThis woman is flightyLike a feather in the wind,She changes her voice — and her mind.Always sweet,Pretty face,In tears or in laughter, — she is always lying.

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RefrainLa donna è mobilqual piuma al vento,Muta d’accento e di pensier!e di pensier!e di pensier!È sempre miseroChi a lei s’affida,Chi le confida — mal cauto il cuore!Pur mai non sentesiFelice appienoChi su quel seno — non liba amore!RefrainLa donna è mobilqual piuma al vento,Muta d’accento e di pensier!e di pensier!e di pensier!

RefrainThe woman is flightyLike a feather in the wind,She changes the tone of her voice and her thoughts,And her thoughts!And her thoughts!Always miserableIs he who trusts her,He who confides in her — his unwary heart!Yet one never feelsFully happyWho on that bosom — does not drink love!RefrainWoman is flightyLike a feather in the wind,She changes the tone of her voice and her thoughts,And her thoughts!And her thoughts!

TurandotTurandot is a Persian word and name meaning “the daughter of Turan”, Turan being a region of Central Asia which used to be part of the Persian Empire. Nessun dorma (English: None shall sleep) is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, the unknown prince, who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot. However, any man who wishes to wed Turandot must first answer her three riddles; if he fails, he will be beheaded. The three riddles are “What is born each night and dies each dawn?”, “What flickers red and warm like a flame, but is not fire?”, and “What is like ice, but burns like fire?”. All are shocked as he correctly answers each riddle. Turandot protests. Calaf agrees to give Turandot a reprieve if she can find out his name by morning. He sings this aria as all of the city seeks his name.

Old ItalianNessun dorma! Nessun dorma!Tu pure, o, Principessa,nella tua fredda stanza,guardi le stelleche tremano d’amore e di speranza.Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me,il nome mio nessun saprà!No, no, sulla tua bocca lo diròquando la luce splenderà!Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio che ti fa mia![Coro] Il nome suo nessun saprà e noi dovrem, ahime, morirDilegua, o notte!Tramontate, stelle! Tramontate, stelle!All’alba vincerò! vincerò, vincerò!

English TranslationNo man shall sleep! No man shall sleep! You too, o Princess, in your chate room, are watching the stars, which tremble with love and with hope.But my secret lies hidden within me,no one shall disciver my name!No, No, I will reveal it only on your lips when daylight shines forth.And my kiss shall break the silence which makes you mine!...[Chorus]Nobody will discover his name and we must die, alas.Depart, o night! Set you stars! Set you stars! At dawn I shall win! I shall win! I shall win!

Pirates of PenzanceThe Major-General’s Song is a song from Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance. It is perhaps the most famous song in Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas. It is sung by Major-General Stanley at his first entrance, towards the end of Act I. The song satirises the idea of the “modern” educated British Army officer of the latter 19th century. The song is replete with historical and cultural references, satirically demonstrating the Major-General’s impressive and well-rounded education that seems to come at the complete expense of any useful military knowledge.

I am the very model of a modern Major-General,I’ve information vegetable, animal, and mineral,I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historicalFrom Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical;I’m very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical,I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical,About binomial theorem I’m teeming with a lot o’ news,With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.I’m very good at integral and differential calculus;I know the scientific names of beings animalculous:In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

In fact, when I know what is meant by “mamelon” and “ravelin”,When I can tell at sight a Mauser rifle from a javelin,When such affairs as sorties and surprises I’m more wary at,And when I know precisely what is meant by “commissariat”,When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gun-nery, When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery— In short, when I’ve a smattering of elemental strategy—You’ll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.For my military knowledge, though I’m plucky and adventury,Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century;But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,I am the very model of a modern Major-General.