Venetian opera and Commedia dell'arte - Jérôme Correas

When Monteverdi died in 1643, Venetian opera - the popular genre par excellence - dominated Italian musical tastes. This new genre, combining tragedy and opera buffa, extravagant situations and stock characters, is one which remains fluid and diverse: improvisation is de rigueur and the style also encompasses a great range of vocal expression, from spoken recitative to the aria via the beginnings of accompanied recitative. We will explore this rich musical and dramatic language through several characteristic scenes taken from the works of Francesco Cavalli - uncontested master of Venetian opera for almost 30 years - and from the work of his rivals and successors, Cesti and Sartorio.

Areas of studies

• Work on characterisation of roles (heroic, comic, nannies, stammerers, magicians, soldiers).

• The sprechgesang style, rubato, relationshios between the singer and the bass continuo
  
  
• Work on improvisation in violin and viol parts
  
  
• Construction of a continuo group (harpsichord, organ, theorbo, viols, harpe)
  
  

Repertoire

Operas by Cavalli, Sartorio, and Cesti

Programme

Tuesday 15 July 2008
9h30-19h: ‘Le Petit Plus d'Ambronay' - Discovery day

Wednesday 16 - Saturday 19 July
10h-13h: Individual work with each participant
14h30-18h30: Musical work with the whole group

Sunday 20 July
10h-13h: Individual work with each participant
14h30-18h: Group rehearsal
20h: End of course performance

Teaching fee

260 euros (teaching fee and lunches)
225 euros for participants of the European Baroque Academy (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008).

Accommodation can be provided in Ambronay (bedrooms of 4-6 beds): 140 euros (night, evening meals and breakfast). Fore more details.
Participant arrival: Monday, 14^th (evening) or Tuesday, 15^th (before 10 am)
Participant departure: Sunday, 20^th (evening) or Monday, 21^st (before noon).