Opera is a comprehensive art that combines drama, poetry, music, dance and fine arts. It originated in Italy at the end of the 16th century. Traditional European operas are divided into several genres: serious opera, Italian comic opera, French musical opera and French grand opera. In eighteenth-century Italy, opera was very popular. Formal opera is in line with the artistic taste of the court nobles, and its themes are mostly Greek myths or historical stories. In terms of form, it pays attention to gorgeous singing skills. Music includes overtures, arias, accompaniment recitatives, duets, choruses, etc. Opera is not only popular in Italy but also spread to other European countries. Composers in Germany, Austria and France often use Italian playwrights' scripts to write operas and sing them in Italian. German composer Handel wrote more than 40 operas, most of which were full operas. His full opera "Rinaldo" is based on the narrative poem "The Salvation of Jerusalem" by Italian poet Tasso during the Renaissance, with lyrics written by Italian Rossi. The content describes the Crusade period. The Palestinian Templar Leonardo fell in love with the noble girl Almirena. But Almirena is the favorite of the witch Armida, who hides her in the magic garden and prevents Rinaldo from taking her away. The pagan king Argant is the lover of the witch. He was lustful by nature and fell in love with Almirena in the magic garden. When Almirena was in despair about her love with Rinaldo, Rinaldo came to rescue her and imprisoned Argante and the witch to make them correct their evil ways. Hidden in the magic garden, Almirena laments her fate and sings an aria. In operas, arias are vocal solos that best reflect the protagonist's personality, thoughts and feelings, and are equivalent to monologues in dramas. Opera arias usually adopt a three-section structure, with the lyrics and music of the third section repeating the first section unchanged. The protagonist can add flowers to the melody at will when singing, and improvise the cadenza at appropriate places. Almirena's aria follows the rhythm of the Spanish slow three-beat sarabande. Almirena is a soprano. She sings in this aria: Let me cry, my fate is too cruel, my hands and feet are tied and I cannot escape! Ah, only death can find mercy, with indifference towards my misfortune. Mozart also wrote two serious operas: "Idomeneo" and "The Mercy of Titus". In the year before his death, he created "The Kindness of Body Care". At that time, opera was already in decline. The opera was rarely performed for more than a hundred years, but has regained attention and resumed performances in the last two decades and is considered one of Mozart's finest operas. This opera depicts the story of the noblewoman Veteria, who holds a grudge because she was not selected as the queen by the Roman emperor Tutu, and instigates her lover Sesto to murder Titus. After many disputes. Tituo finally abandoned the original engagement and forgave Sesto and Vitilia. The aria of Vitellia in the first act has a delicate melody and gives full play to the soprano's singing skills. Mozart did not use the three-part form that repeats the first part of the opera intact, but used a two-part form with broad development. The whole song is divided into two parts, one slow and one fast. In this aria, Vetelia forces Sesto to overcome his doubts and work for her plot. If you want me to love you, put away your suspicion. I can no longer tolerate your annoying suspicion. Only those who trust others can gain trust. They are often afraid of being deceived, and end up deceiving themselves. The opposite of serious opera is comic opera. There are two main types of comic opera, namely Italian comic opera and French comic opera. Italian comic opera developed from short musical comedies performed between acts of the main opera. "La Madonna" by Italian composer Pergolesi in the 18th century was the first independent Italian comic opera. But when it was first performed in 1733, it was still performed as an interlude to the opera "The Proud Prisoner". The plots of Italian comic operas are humorous and often based on social life; the music is lively, short and concise, including recitatives, arias and duets, and the lyrics are sung in unaccompanied recitatives. Italian comic opera was welcomed by the emerging bourgeoisie because of its rich flavor of life. Therefore, when formal opera was on the decline at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, Italian comic opera was still popular in many European countries. Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro", "Don Giovanni" and Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" are some of the most vital Italian comic operas, and they are still frequently performed on the world opera stage to this day. "The Barber of Selva" is based on the play of the same name by the French comedy writer Boma. It depicts the stubborn, conservative, overbearing and selfish Dr. Bartolo, who wants to take Rosina, an aristocratic girl under his protection, as his wife, so he is very careful about her. strict. Count Almaviva passionately pursues Rosina. With the help of the clever and witty barber Figaro, he defeats Bartolo and wins Rosina's love. In Act 1, Scene 1, the Count serenades Rosina at her window, pours out his love to her, and tells her that his name is Lindolo. At the beginning of the second scene of the first act, Rosina held a love letter to Lindolo in her hand and sang a beautiful and moving Cavatina, showing that she fell in love with the Count at first sight and tried every means to deal with the protection. human obstruction. The Cavatina is a solo piece with a freer form than an aria and a more flexible melody. Rosina's Cadetina is a lyrical solo for a coloratura soprano, divided into two parts: Andante and Moderate; the melody is exquisite and full of brilliance.
In the Andante part, after the band intro that is rich in contrast between strength and weakness, Rosina sings: