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The concert arias of Mozart actually include not only arias written specifically for concert but also interpolations which subsequently assumed the character of concert arias. Those in the following study were written for Aloysia Weber, Mozart's first love and, later, his sister-in-law. These arias are interesting for a number of reasons: First, the fact that they are seldom performed today raises questions about singing technique in the late eighteenth century. Second, the musical requirements which fostered this technique must have been grounded in a tradition of embellishment--a subject worthy of investigation. Third, the concert arias are an example of the close connection between melody and instrument in this period; what was the nature of the voice for which they were written? Fourth, these arias were fully notated at a time when the singer was generally expected to improvise. They are a written record of Classical ornamentation and are therefore a good choice for the study. The method used is as follows: The singing tradition according to which Weber and Mozart were trained is examined. After this discussion follows a chapter on the tradition of ornamentation, which influenced Mozart's melodic writing. Mozart's approach to composition and notation is then described. Finally, the melodies are analyzed through the process of de-ornamentation. A per-formable edition of a concert aria from which all ornamentation has been removed is included. The thesis yields the following conclusions: First, tastes in singing style change from century to century, and these preferences affect the aspects of pedagogy which are emphasized in any given age. Second, the pieces reflect a preference for bright, florid melodies and high, flexible voices. Third, Mozart was complete in his notation for a number of reasons: 1) orchestral accompaniment is necessary in the sections of free ornamentation; 2) Mozart wrote the arias for Aloysia Weber and for particular performances in most instances; 3) by creating a fine composition Mozart showed himself to best advantage over the Italian musicians with whom he felt an intense rivalry. Fourth, late eighteenth-century ornamentation can be divided into two groups--specific ornaments and free ornamentation. Classical ornamentation differs from Baroque in two important respects: 1) in Baroque melodies ornaments are mere frills, but Classical ornaments are so organic to the style that most Mozart melodies would be unthinkable without them; 2) whereas Baroque free ornamentation usually fills in spaces between chord tones, Classical embellishment reinforces structural points. The performable edition mentioned above resembles a simple nineteenth-century cantabile aria, illustrating the basic difference between the later style and that of Mozart. / Arts, Faculty of / Music, School of / Graduate

This study has two divisions: Part I, an historical and analytical summary of the emergence and development of the divertimento and the serenade in the eighteenth century, and Part II, the culmination of these structures in the works of W. A. Mozart. Two primary purposes are envisioned: 1) to further our knowledge of how German Gesellshafts-musik evolved toward its peak in the second half of the eighteenth century, and 2) to furnish a useful analytical handbook of Mozart's works in these genres.

This paper will examine one area of Mozart's work, the Singspiele. This study is an analysis of the principal tenor roles of Mozart's Singspiele. The organization for analyzing these works conforms to three periods in Mozart's life. (1) Childhood and Early Youth, to 1774; (2) The Period of the First Masterworks, 1774-1781; and (3) The Years in Vienna, 1781-1791. Related biographical data and historical background have been utilized in discussing each work. Because the Singspiele is a musical composition, analyses will consider music as the major source of development, using plot and character wholly as supporting features.

No description available.

The concert arias of Mozart are probably among the least known works of this genius among composers, yet they represent no small part of his musical output and are scattered throughout every period of his life. He composed a total of fifty-seven in all, the first when he was only nine years old and the last one in the final year of his life. Mozart's fifty-seven concert arias are divided among the four voice groupings as follows: one for alto, eight for bass, ten for tenor and thirty-eight for soprano. Of these soprano arias one (K. 569)l is lost and two (K. 307 and K. 308) are merely ariettas on French texts. It is with the eighteen arias for normal male voice that this discussion will be primarily concerned; arias for the castrati voice will not be considered.

The aim of this dissertation is to comparatively analyse the set designs for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s (1756-1791) opera, The Magic Flute (1791), with specific reference to selected set designers from the 18th to the early 21st century. The selection was made in light of each set designer’s unique design concepts for The Magic Flute which were all realised as stage settings in a proscenium arch theatre. In order to analyse the designs, it is necessary to trace theatrical practices and chronologically examine the reforms that affected the visual and spatial representation of scenography from the 18th to the 20th Chapter one provides a brief overview of the development of the proscenium arch stage. It examines the architectural reforms that were made to the proscenium arch in order to accommodate deeper stages and changes in stage settings. In addition, Chapter one investigates methods that theatre architects used to alter the proscenium arch and forestage in order to create a unity between the audience members and the performance. century. The set designs for The Magic Flute by Emanuel Johann Schikaneder (1791), Karl Friederich Schinkel (1816), David Hockney (1978) and William Kentridge (2007) will be analysed within the context of this investigation. Chapter two further considers the architectural modifications that were made to the stage and auditoria of opera theatres in more detail, from the first U-shaped auditorium onwards. It is essential to consider the different architectural structures of opera theatres because in order for each designer to initiate their design concept, they would be required to consider the architectural limitations of their chosen auditoria. The architectural structure would be determined by the foyer area, the style and arrangement of seating and the size of the proscenium arch and stage. Chapter three, by means of a comparative analysis, considers the social and cultural influences on the design concepts of Schikaneder, Schinkel and Hockney and how they informed those of Kentridge for The Magic Flute. It also provides a brief overview of stage lighting, scenic styles and stage machinery used in opera from the 16th to the 20th Chapter four classifies the theatrical spaces used in opera theatres by examining three key areas in an opera theatre, in relation to the foyer, auditorium and stage area. This investigation will be conducted with specific reference to the Theatre Auf Der Wieden, The Royal Opera House, the old Glyndebourne Opera House and The Artscape Opera House. In addition to this it will examine the selected designers’ approach to their design concepts by comparatively analysing the stage settings of Schikaneder, Schinkel, Hockney and Kentridge for The Magic Flute and the stage technology that was used to realise their design concepts. Thereafter, the set designs for Kentridge’s production and how they were conceptualised from a South African perspective will be examined. century Chapter five summarises the ways in which scenography is influenced by architectural, cultural and theatrical discourses, from the analysis of the designs and concepts for The Magic Flute. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

This diploma thesis deals with the theme of Mozart's opera The Marriage of Figaro, focusing on the role of the Countess and her contextualisation into the work of W. A. Mozart. The fundamental objective of this thesis is to analyze Mozart's work in the broader context of the composer's life story, the plot of the opera and interpretative concept of the role of Countess by three selected protagonists. A secondary aim of the thesis highlights the importance of Mozart's operas in music history. The introductory part covers the life of Mozart, followed by an overview and analysis of the formation of his operas. The main part is the analysis of The Marriage of Figaro and the Countess role in various concepts. Conclusion of the thesis confirms the hypothesis of Mozart importance for the neo-classical opera.

The following theoretical work titled MOZART'S SONGS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE INTERPRETER has been written on the grounds of the personal experience of the author with the interpretation of Mozart's work. It discusses the history of the origin of nine selected songs, which have been analysed from the vocal-interpretive standpoint and from the standpoint of tectonic structure and musical form. Primarily, the analysis is an expert treatise of the vocal technique field enriched by the components of the historically informed interpretation.

The master thesis "Don Giovanni - history, its origin and interpretation in the 20th century" is dealing with an entire development of the opera and it reflects staging approaches of the 20th century. The thesis offers a brief analysis of the opera and the literary work it is based on. Furthermore it summarizes information about the origin of the work and its creators. Finally in the supplement there are cast lists of the productions of National Theatre Prague, photographs and pictures of the production in various opera houses worldwide.