| Unit name | Opera & Politics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MUSI20120 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Arkle |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Technical knowledge of music (ability to read notation fluently is essential; music A level or Associated board grade 8 or equivalent may be required) |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Music |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Opera of the long nineteenth-century was a compelling and topical form of entertainment. This unit aims to develop a critical understanding of opera’s relation to aesthetic, social, cultural and ideological issues; to establish a familiarity with some key works of the period; and to analyse the approaches of some leading musicologists and modern opera directors. Specifically, we will consider the ambiguity and fluidity of political ‘meanings’ embedded in individual operas, and examine ways in which the Zeitgeist might be articulated through libretto, music, staging, performance and reception. The themes and case studies will be drawn from the following: Revolution (Beethoven, Fidelio; Rossini, Guillaume Tell); Gender (Bizet, Carmen; Strauss, Salome); Religion (Halévy, La Juive; Verdi, Don Carlos); Race (Verdi, Otello; Puccini, Mma Butterfly); Nationalism (Wagner, Die Meistersinger; Janacek, Jenufa). The unit will tie into repertory at WNO and/or ENO where possible, and include the opportunity to attend a rehearsal and talk to members of the creative team.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including lectures and self-directed exercises.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MUSI20120).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
