Key moments essay

1. Is Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo an opera?

Instrumentation—the opera makes use of an expanded orchestra which is larger than

commonly used for operas today.

Layout—the opera is built of 5 acts and a prologue- this is typical of an opera layout but
larger than classical opera seria structure

opera
NOUN
 1A dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists.

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/opera

listening to various versions of the opera being performed there is a distinct difference in
staging depending on how close to the original score they stick. Most performances use
little on stage props and the chorus is usually kept nearer the back of the stage to allow for
the soloists to be distinctly recognised. The opera doesn’t make use of a lot of chorus
sections.

The opera follows the style that is to become ‘opera seria’ which makes use of contrasting
recit and aria. The opera is also based upon a mythological story, opera seria follows this
style also as it is popular to write an opera from a tragedy with a strong heroic lead.

The structure follows ‘classical’ opera structure; prologue followed by three acts. ‘
L’orfeo consists of prologue and five acts. The acts are split between the worlds of the living
and the world of the dead. This creates contrast in the instrumentation as well as in the use
of vocalists on stage.

http://operawire.com/opera-profile-monteverdis-lorfeo-watch/

http://www.roh.org.uk/news/orfeo-musical-highlight-possente-spirto

https://www.npr.org/2010/01/08/122328598/the-root-of-all-opera-monteverdi-s-orfeo

http://www.aam.co.uk/#/Explore/Blog/Orpheus-synopsis.aspx

http://www.sjsu.edu/people/gordon.haramaki/courses/baroque/s1/4.-Monteverdi-and-
Orfeo.pdf
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francesca-Caccini

https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/music-and-theater-arts/21m-011-introduction-to-western-
music-spring-2006/lecture-notes/week06_lecture06.pdf

https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/music-and-theater-arts/21m-235-monteverdi-to-mozart-1600-
1800-fall-2013/#