The assoluta voice in opera, 1797-1847 / by Geoffrey S. Riggs.

Author/creator Riggs, Geoffrey S.
Format Book
Publication InfoJefferson, NC : McFarland, ©2003.
Descriptionviii, 263 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Subjects
Singing--History.
Opera--19th century.
Style, Musical.

Contents Earliest virtuosi -- Women's voices -- Luigi Cherubini (1760-1842): Médée -- Médée on disc -- Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868): Armida -- Armida on disc -- Assoluta Manquée (I) -- Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826): Oberon -- Rezia on disc -- Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848): Anna Bolena -- Bolena on disc -- Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835): Norma -- Norma on disc -- Donizetti (1797-1848): Gemma di Vergy -- Gemma on disc -- Donizetti (1797-1848): Roberto Devereux -- The Virgin Queen on disc -- Time of transition -- Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): Nabucco -- Abigaille on disc -- Verdi (1813-1901): Macbeth -- Shakespeare's lady on disc -- Assoluta Manquée (II) -- Voices from the past.
Abstract It is unusual for styles in opera to carry over from one era into another. It would be even more unusual for one era's characteristics to linger two generations into the next. Yet this is precisely what happened during the first half of the nineteenth century, when the intricacies of the fleet bel canto style were combined with the Romantic era's heroic declamation and formidable orchestral emphasis resulting in the creation of the assoluta voice. This work traces the emergence of the impressive vocal writing that resulted from the marriage of the bel canto and Romantic eras. It also covers the uniquely versatile divas who were given the opportunities to make their mark on opera from the time of Cherubini to that of a young Verdi. Here, both the wide-ranging vocalism in the scores themselves and the artists capable of performing this style are referred to as assoluta. Chapters consider Luigi Cherubini's Medee, Gioacchino Rossini's Armida, Carl Maria von Weber's Oberon, Gaetano Donizetti's Anna Bolena, Vincenzo Bellini's Norma, Donizetti's Gemma di Vergy and Roberto Devereux, the time of transition in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco and Macbeth.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 247-248) and index.
LCCN 2002152266
ISBN0786414014 (library binding : alk. paper)