Communication by human voice

OPERA AND OPERETTA. SIMILARITIES AND CONTRASTS.

Florenţa Nicoleta MARINESCU1

1. Prof., Ph.D., Faculty of Arts, Ovidius University of Constanţa, Romania Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract their knowledge through teachers and students. Lyrical theatre is an infinite resource of communication Capitalist countries set their eyes on middle- between the audience and the artists. Based on its musical eastern European teachers and masters of the and vocal primal instruments it has been reaching out to craft, offering them a possibility to practice their public of all social classes throughout history. This universal artistic language is expressed on stage through art in a new and friendly environment. various representations expanding in different genres and Subsequently the competition between academic subcategories, defined by their historic periods and ages. institutions grew, helping art form evolve and This communication is realized through the human voice; reach new heights. One thing will be ever so this wonderful and mysterious weapon of artistic creation cannot be tuned to the standards of physical playable similar in capitalist or communist regimes alike; instruments, but can surely be the vessel that brings the art is a direct expression of life and truth, like a audience an emotional and powerful experience. This form mirror resembling social dilemmas, protests and of artistic performance is full of spiritual and timeless emotion. No doubt a great contribution to cultural life to needs. Played out on a stage through conventional many civilizations of the world, its message is direct and means of the genres, one can understand the always straightforward aimed at audiences all around the struggle and history of a civilization through its globe. art. Though the production value and final Keywords: voice, theatre, communication, opera, operetta, performance, musical. presentation may vary from a place to another, it is the combined work of a group of people like The musical lyric scene is an artistic form grips, stage and light designers, make-up and present all over the world, in every corner and costume artists that reaches out to the people and city that manifests cultural life and creative sends them the message. An interesting activities. It is a special and unique genre of art comparison would be one between the effect of that transcends through history and the passing art and the effect of religion on one's mind. of time, its birth place dating back to medieval Somehow religion is more of a boundary-setter ages. One can say that many great cities based than an liberator of thought. Art lets the mind go their cultural evolution on preserving this art beyond the simple philosophy of sinner and form through institutions of display and saint, revealing the beautiful shades of grey that education, like theatres, schools and universities. put the mind and soul to the test. Art can spark At a closer look, a pertinent and curious revolutions. It is a well known fact that many art observation is that ex-communist countries have forms evolved in a church-oriented environment, developed a special and respectful approach to but when the moment came they flew away like this kind of artistic creation. Without having the a baby bird following the natural course of life consumerist agenda of old capitalist systems and which is to cultivate and explore the maximum being exposed for the first time to foreign potential of your being. investors and corporations, many of these Perfection in art is defined by imperfection, countries concentrated their new found freedom by human condition in its primal form. The in human studies, mostly art, exercising their emotional roller coaster provided for the imagination and creative potential. A good and audiences takes them on a journey where they immediate consequence is that new schools and experience fear, happiness, truth, betrayal, cries universities all over the world started exchanging and laughter. The result of a story and the cycle

Volume 4 • Issue 2 April / June 2014 • International Journal of Communication Research 75 Florenţa Nicoleta MARINESCU of an artistic creation is through itself perfection, Having a dramatic storyline, almost all Operas and this idea creates a whole new church. The have a sad ending. Opera Buffa is the so called comparison is applied even to the architectural “happy” Opera; it has a happy, positive ending side of the matter. Theatres and ballrooms in to the storyline. Lovers always unite at the end, great places around the world are a display of in spite of everything that’s happened to stop creativity without restraint. They celebrate the them, and characters that through storyline get place where people go to detach themselves from the appeal of the audience come out on top. Even everyday problems and needs. Churches and the Opera Buffa authors are told to have been religious buildings however manifest a certain positive and uplifting people. Two of them that conservative approach in architecture. With the stand out in mind are Gaetano Donizetti and passing of time, many theatrical lyrical genres Gioacchino Rossini. Their creation had a great were born by the social classes that commissioned commercial appeal as they were true entertainers them. When these forms of art started catching through their art form. Some dramatic Opera on to the high courts as well as the streets, the authors have created Opera Buffa compositions, fundamental difference was set by how the like Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi. authors tackled subjects; the comedy-drama ratio Somehow you can feel the touch of a dramatic was very important, as well as who turned out author even in these creations, being smarter and to be the obvious victor in the end. more profound in their expression. Without a Whatever the variation of these creations, the doubt, the emotional bound that appears between stage always won. Let’s focus on two genres that audience and character is something very strong apparently are almost the same. Both focusing and very unique in Opera. The performance is on music as their primal element of expression the one that gives out the energy needed to create and using similar exposure methods through such a bond. People gasp when characters pause, stages, props, acting, costumes, and accompanied they fight through it emotionally when it comes by orchestras: Opera and Operetta. Differences to the characters struggle, they await the end between these genres are not set only by the even when most of them know the story already. different musical scores that they use, but also What goes on the stage becomes your only point by their different “perfection” goals. Opera of attention. You are taken on a journey that focuses on the exploitation of the voice, and visually can grip you harder than the experience taking it to the highest level possible to of a film. Once you go out the theatre you have communicate with the audience, whilst Operetta a certain look back moment when you realize uses a kind of spoken word singing that does not that it is all over and the show ended, and you require the singing artists to go far from their have to get back to reality. Centuries of this art comfort zone when performing. Opera tends to form are the reason of its necessity. become a little slow in comparison to Operetta Operetta does not solicit the audiences’ energy as the ladder through its dynamics is more in this manner. The storyline is always lighter, entertaining for the audience. Both use theatricals with an end that is expected by development. and acting, this playing a very important part in The intensity of the vocals is set to a medium, as the appeal of the genres and being an important the viewer gets the feel of a conversation being aid to the storytelling part of the composition. played out in song. The subjects that are taken Opera has a dramatic storyline. Voices in on are friendlier as they are filled with comic Opera are given a lot of power and personality. relief and satire, and the props and costumes Characters have conflicts, they can be kind and have more of a flashy feeling, being more gentle, they can beg and they can be demanding, entertaining and less needy of attention and sometimes even command armies in their roles. emotional focus. They take on romance with But the personality of the character is given by dancing moments, and the dynamic is faster, the singer/actor that portrays it. That’s why in more rhythmic without being easy. Social classes many occasions the audiences come to the theatre are depicted humorously by the characters, and wanting to see how the singer finds the technical the viewers always relate. The ballet has an and professional means to take on the character. important role in the breathing spaces of the

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development. The Operetta ballet is characterized the classical elements of ballet that we find in by its entertaining value whilst in Opera, the Opera and Operetta, the modern dance techniques choreography is a direct helper to the dramatic help for a more personal “pop” influenced value of the creation. Its goal is to amplify the delivery. Backing vocals help the stage but they drama factor, without taking the attention point do not have the same important role of the off the singer. A modern form of expression is classical choir. They are planned only to help the Musical. Born and developed at the maximum harmonics and aid in the mood set of the play, on the North American continent, it is a complex rather than being a separate and elaborate and powerful art form that tackles on more structure like in Opera or Operetta. Without a personal matters with a hands-on approach. doubt, evolution and progress will always be Being dramatically more similar to Opera, active in the lyrical arts as well as in everyday emotional wise, and having the entertaining life. Forms of art appear and are catered to the value stretched out to a maximum, it can take the needs of the public. Some of them fade away in viewer on a crazy ride. Musical actors/singers time, but the ones discussed earlier stood the test have to participate in choreography ensembles. of time and have aced it with flying colors. To Dancing is a very important element in Musical sum up, if the people still queue in line at theatres theatre creations; the dynamics of such a and music halls, there is a necessity and a thirst development are staggering. Singing and dancing for art. Even if it is centuries old, or a new born, at the Musical rate is very breath taking. Personal a form of art can be valued through the people subjects that are modern and closer to the that relate and consume it. The only hope we viewers’ knowledge helps them relate more to have is that the preservation of value is a thing the creation. Musical is more of a confession than that will not be forgotten, and the need of culture a lesson; its all about the show and getting it and expression is passed on generation to done properly on the stage, without focusing on generation, even though the modern tendency is the voice or on the poetry of the spoken word of to easily forget and walk by without noticing Operetta. It is beyond doubt a form of art inspired how much artistic creation can uplift us as human by these two old classics, but a stand alone beings. nonetheless. Tailored for new audiences and “Some moments in music history have been designed to have the freedom and personal attributed to myth. Like the old contest between the identity of motion pictures it is a very important lyre and the flute has been attributed to the tragic form of expression, that in a century of existence conflict between Apollo and Marsyas, a conflict with has established a few classics and famous authors. a clear social correspondent. In the end, the popularity Choreography in Musicals is special. Not having of the Dionysian rhythms ensured a higher quality, equalling if not surpassing the lyre and the flute.”1

Fig. 1. Title: “Apollo Flaying Marsyas” Artist: Jusepe De Ribera (1591-1652) Country of Origin: Spain Date Of Creation: 1637; Place of Creation: Naples, Italy; Style: Tenebrism; Genre: mythological painting; Technique: oil; Material: canvas; Dimensions: 202 x 255 cm Gallery: Musée Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium2,3

International Journal of Communication Research 77 Florenţa Nicoleta MARINESCU

Endnotes 2. http://www.museumsyndicate.com/item. php?item=12680. 1. Tănase, Alexandru, O istorie a culturii în capodopere, 3. http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/jusepe-de- Vol. 2, Bucharest: Univers Publishing, 1988, p. ribera/apollo-and-marsyas-1637-1. 357.

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