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OPERA Opera became increasingly popular during the Romantic period. It is a story (libretto) told by the composers through music while using the words of the librettist. The book that the composer and librettist put together is called a score.

The score has all the musical notes, words and ideas to help the performers tell the story. Often, there are operas with overtures, preludes, prologues, several acts, finales and postludes.

During each Act, the story unfolds through the music that thesingers sing. Sometimes there is spoken dialogue without music. Components of an Opera:

Libretto - the texts of an opera. Librettist and the composer work closely together to tell the story. Score - the book that the composer and librettist put together.The score has all the musical notes, words and ideas to help the performers tell the story. Recitative - Declamatory singing, used in the prose parts and dialogue of opera. Different roles in operas are created taking into account different types of voices. Each role requires a different type of singer, not only able to sing a given vocal range but also with certain voice characteristics, color and power. Aria an air or solo singing part that the public will remember best when leaving the opera house. Voice Classification For the Male Voice: Tenor- highest male voice Baritone- Middle male voice, liesbetween Bass and Tenor voices. It is the common male voice. Bass- lowest male voice For the Female Voice:Soprano- highest female voiceColoratura-highest soprano voice Lyric-bright and full sound Dramatic- darker full soundMezzo-Soprano- most common female voice; strong middlevoice, tone is darker or deeper than the soprano Contralto- lowest female voice and most unique among female Duet, trio, and other small ensemble Chorus Orchestra Acts-main divisions of an opera Scene- setting or place

A Capella - one or more singers performing without instrumental accompaniment. Cantabile - In a singing style Capo - Head, the beginning Coda - closing section appended to a movement or song. Dolce - sweetly

Falsetto - a weaker and more airy voice usually in the higher pitch ranges. Glissando - sliding quickly between 2 notes/ Passagio - parts of a singing voice where register transitions occur. Rubato - slight speeding up or slowing down of the tempo of a piece at the discretion of the soloist. Tessitura - the most comfortable singing range of a singer.Vibrato - rapidly repeated slight pitch variation during a sustained note, to give a richer & more varied sound. Vocal Techniques

Sound: For opera, the performance is about the quality of sound that the singer makes. Singing opera requires you to sing long phrases and to sing loud enough to be heard over an orchestra in large halls. Bel Canto technique: Opera technique is called bel canto, which literally meansbeautiful singing. Language:Opera singers often sing in Italian, French, German, or Russian. Fundamentals of Singing: A. BreathingB. Controlling Tone Quality C. PostureD. Vocal Range E. Endurance In the Philippines, the sarsuwela, also known as the drama simbolicowas a traditional theatre genre that dominated the Philippine theatre scene over one hundred years.

It was first introduced by Dario Cespedes. Its storyline was commonly based on domestic issues oftenexemplified a strong sense of Filipino nationalism and anguish against thecountrys foreign imperialists.

Famous writers of sarsuwela include Benigno Zamora Severino Reyes Clodualdo del Mundo. Dalagang Bukid (Country Maiden, 1919) is arguably the most popular sarsuwela in Tagalog.

In the Philippines artist like Isay Alvarez Robert Sena Monique Wilson Jaime Rivera Leah Salonga also became famous not only in localscene but abroad as well for their roles in musical plays like the Miss Saigon.

Short Quiz1-5Review for few minutesII identify the voice1. Highest male voice- tenor2. highest female voice - soprano3. the lowest male voice- bass4. the common male voice baritone5. the strong middle voice of female mezzo soprano