MHL 603 – PREPARATION 6
(F-11)
Due 31
October via Email
Please read
the following:
Joseph Kerman, "Introduction"
to Opera as Drama (1956)
Fyodor Dostoevsky, The House of the Dead (1862), chapter 9
Also watch two of the operas assigned for
this unit:
Alban Berg, Wozzeck (1925)
Leos Janacek The House of the Dead (1928)
The readings
are on reserve in the library and posted online. DVDs of both operas are on
reserve in the library. Wozzeck is available on Naxos (in English) but House is
not.) Scores are on reserve.
Write a
couple of paragraphs in response to one
of the following questions:
1) On p. 7 Kerman makes a distinction between
"theatrical" and "dramatic." What do you think he means by
this? Give an example of an opera you think is mainly theatrical vs. another
opera you think is mainly dramatic.
On pp. 9-11 Kerman discusses a scene
from Othello, first in Shakespeare's
play, then in Verdi's opera. He tries to
show how Verdi's music gives "imaginative articulation" to the drama
in a similar way to Shakespeare's verse.
Explain what he means by this. Discuss a scene or an extended passage from
Wozzeck in which you think Berg's music
"articulates" the drama in a similar way.
2) In
chapter 9 Dostoevsky tells three stories, of which Janacek sets only the last,
changing the name of the character from Baklyushin to
Skuratov. Discuss differences in how the story is
told between the novel and the opera. Which episodes are omitted and why? Does
the music help narrate the story? Explain how. Does the music have additional
functions besides narration? What is lost in the opera version? Is anything
gained? Illustrate with examples.
If you like, you can take the
opportunity to comment on one more question: what is the author's attitude
toward Isay Fomitch? Was
Dostoevsky anti-semitic?
Send your
paragraphs to john.spitzer@notes.sfcm.edu
by Monday Oct 31 at