The Opera Reform (also in the entry “Ch 21 Opera and Vocal Music in the Early Classic Period) of mid 18th century had composers, librettists, and patrons work to bring new ideas of music and drama, seeking to make it all more “natural”. Natural being having a flexible structure, more expressiveness, less ornamented with coloratura. To increase dramatic impact, they made greater use of accompanied recitative and ensembles, making the orchestra more important as a vehicle for depicting scenes, evoking moods.
Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice
Gluck aspired to write music of “a beautiful simplicity” which he achieved in Orfeo ed Euridice (1762) which was based on the myth of Orpheus. The opera was the first of Gluck that showed signs of his desire to reform opera seria, known as the opera reform.
My thoughts on Orfeo ed Euridice:
I enjoyed watching it more than La Serva Padrona because I find the story — its characters, the setting, the conflicts and resolution — more compelling. I still find that deeper voices are more suited for male characters because in the video, Orpheus had a somewhat high voice which, to me, felt like it took away the heaviness of the plot. I find the music really, really good. This one in the video below (which was also provided for the listening exam) really painted a scene fit for the opera, the underworld, for depicting sorrow and loss of hope, and then the rekindling of that hope.
Gluck, Orfeo ed Euridice - Atto II, Scena I (Orfeo e le Furie)
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