AboutMike Leone Expertise I have a special affinity for Italian opera, but I also have a lot of experience with French and German opera. I know somewhat less about opera from countries other than these, although there are some exceptions. My main area of interest is the period 1775-1925, although there are a few baroque and modern works that I love.
Experience I've been listening to opera since 1963 and have amassed a large collection of recorded opera during those years. My interest here spans the entire history of recorded opera, going back to its very earliest days.
Publications I have published a couple of lengthy reviews and a tribute to Mario del Monaco in Immortal Performances, have had some letters appear in Fanfare and have several reviews on amazon.com.
Education/Credentials B.A., University of Maryland 1973, M.A., University of Texas 1975, J.D., University of Houston 1998 (none of these degrees are in music).
I have a few questions about random things to do with opera.
I am doing a school project on "different types of music," we have to pick a genre of music and say the 'sub-types.' I chose opera.
So here are my questions
1) What voice type is Schuberts Erlkonig written for???
I have heard this piece performed by every (basic) voice type except bass. I am using this as my example for a Lieder and it would be helpful to know what it is actually written for.
(All the music that I have seen of this has been written for mezzo-soprano)
2) What would be the most famous Oratorio? Handel's Messiah?
3) Was rennaisance and baroque opera ever written for women, or was it sung by castrati?
4) What actually defines Bel Canto?
I know that it is beautiful singing, but what is this?
(Lol, I am only asking as I am having a debate with a friend on whether or not the Queen of the Nights aria's are bel canto or not. I say they are not.)
4) Who would be the most influential composer of the German Romanticism period??
Thankyou
:D
Answer Hi Jasmin--
1) The thing about lieder is that it can be sung by any voice type. It's just a question of transposing the music to suit the voice. The books published specify things like "medium voice," "high voice," or "low voice," so really any voice type would be okay. I have a book of Schubert lieder containing this piece, and it is in low voice.
2) Handel's Messiah is far and away the most famous oratorio.
3) I believe the parts that were actually for women characters were sung by woman. Just certain men's roles were sung by castrati, I think often the most heroic parts. Just a guess.
4) Whole books have been written on this. Beautiful singing is a prerequisite almost always. I think the period of Bel Canto is actually the early nineteenth century. I would tend to agree with you that the Queen of the Night's arias do not fit into this category and then again an argument could be probably be made that they do, if one's main criteria is that the piece be florid.
5) Probably either Brahms or Wagner. I would tend to lean toward Wagner just because his Tristan chord changed the whole shape of music for the future.
