Assignment 8

1. Describe the difference between opera, light opera, and musical theater?
    Opera-  a dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists; usually classical music.
    Light Opera-  a short amusing opera, usually has a happy ending and some of the text is spoken.  Is also called an operetta.
    Musical Theatre-  a modern musical-dramatic work that is performed on a smaller scale than, and without the conventions of, a traditional opera.

2. How long does it take for someone to have a fully trained operatic voice?
    No singer is born able to sing with an operatic voice.  It takes many years of practice and training to be able to sing at that level.  You must work with a vocal coach for 2-3 hours a day for many years and practice diligently, and you must study a foreign language (French, German, Italian).  Most opera singers do not reach their full potential until the age of thirty.

3. Choose an Opera by Puccini? Describe and interpret.
    Puccini was a great Italian composer, who has captivated audiences for years and continues to do so.  One of his greatest pieces ever written was Madame Butterfly, written in 1904.  Madame Butterfly is about US Navy Lieutenant Pinkerton in Japan, who has acquired a house with servants and a geisha wife, Madame Butterfly.  They marry despite her family's opposition to the marriage and later leaves Japan for America promising to return to his wife.  Three years pass and Madame Butterfly still waits for her beloved husband with their son.  During her husband's time abroad, Madame Butterfly turns down many suitors because she believes her husband will return when he discovers he has a son.  When Lieutenant Pinkerton finally returns to Japan, he brings his American wife.  When Madame Butterfly sees her husband's American wife this crushes her.  At the end of the opera Madame Butterfly kills herself because she cannot take her beloved husband loving someone else.
    I was very fortunate to see Madame Butterfly years ago with my family.  Although, I enjoyed the performance, it was hard for me to watch the singers and read the subtitles because it was sung in Japanese.  However, from what I could interpret from the body language of the singers, Lieutenant Pinkerton loved Madame Butterfly and she loved him in return.  When he had to return to America, Madame Butterfly was devastated.  She did have hope of his return with the birth of their son.  When Madame Butterfly kills herself, has to be the most climatic part of the entire opera.  I believe she committed suicide because she could not deal with the fact her husband left her for another woman.