My First Oral Presentation about Opera

Thomas Daly
Oral Communication 101
9/4/02

Introduction

I. Like a play, opera is a form of drama.
A. However, the drama is not always spoken.
B. Often it is told through music.
C. Italian opera has the drama in the music.
D. Compared to German and French opera, Italian opera is compassionate and emotional through music.
E. Lucia di Lammermoor is an example of drama told through music. (Gaetano Donizetti)
F. The two scenes that I will discuss are the Fountain and The Mad Scenes.

(Transition: Lets start with what I like about The Fountain Scene.)

Body

I. The thing that I like about The Fountain Scene is that there are two female voice ranges. (Gaetano Donizetti)
A. They are soprano and mezzo-soprano.
B. A mezzo-soprano is a female voice that falls between soprano and
contralto.
C. A soprano is a high female voice and a contralto is a low female voice.
D. When Lucia's voice goes high in this scene, she is happy.
E. On the other hand, when Alisa's voice goes high, she is trying to make a point to Lucia.

(Transition: Now that I told you what I like about this scene, lets talk about it.)

II. In The Fountain Scene, Lucia is waiting for Edgardo.

A. Alisa (Lucia's companion) tries to look out for Lucia=s best interests by trying to talk her out of loving Edgardo.
B. Despite Alisa's efforts, it does not make Lucia change her mind.
C. When Edgardo arrives, he tells Lucia that he has business to attend to in France.
D. Before Edgardo Leaves, him and Lucia exchange rings, and Edgardo promises Lucia that he will write to her.

III. Inside Lammermoor castle, Normanno and Enrico come up with an idea to forge a letter from Edgardo, saying that he has his mind on another woman.

A. They figure that this will trick Lucia into marrying Arturo.
B. Lucia is convinced by the forged letter and goes ahead and marries Arturo.
C. Lucia later realizes that she has been tricked with the forged letter, goes mad, and kills Arturo.
D. This starts the part of Lucia di Lammermoor known as The Mad Scene. (Gaetano Donizetti)

(Transition: So lets look at what I like about The Mad Scene.)

IV. The thing that I like about The Mad Scene is that it features a solo soprano voice.

A. When the soprano's voice goes high, she is letting out a burst of anger.
B. When it drops, she is calming herself.

(Transition: Now that I described what I like about this scene, lets look at it.)

V. In The Mad Scene, Lucia enters the anteroom with the dagger she used to kill Arturo in her hand.

A. She drops the dagger, then relives her relationship with Edgardo, and pretends to be married to him right in front of the residents of Lammermoor.
B. After Lucia relives all these memories, she thinks she is heaven, and dies.

VI. Now that I have described part of this opera, I would like to play you a piece from The Mad Scene.

A. Ladies and Gentlemen, here is part of The Mad Scene from Lucia di Lammermoor. (Play piece)

Conclusion

(Transition: So after hearing a sample from Lucia di Lammermoor, I hope you can understand how beautiful Italian opera can be.)

I. The two scenes that I discussed were The Fountain and the Mad Scenes.
A. However, there is a great deal more in this opera than what I have discussed.
B. You might either want to purchase it on CD, on video, or look on the internet to find out more about it.
C. Thank you, and enjoy the beauty of Italian Opera. (Offer handouts)


Bibliography

Works Cited

The Metropolitan Opera. "Lucia di Lammermoor." 1 Jul 2002.
2 Aug 2002
Baltimore Opera. "Lucia di Lammermoor." N/A
1 Sep 2002
Kennedy, X.J., and Gioia Dana. (1999) Literature. An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. New York, NY: Longman, 1998
Kerman Joseph, Tomlinson Gary. (2000) Listen.
Boston, MA: Bedford St. Martins, 2000
Lucia di Lammermoor. Dir.Richard Bonynge. Hollywood CA:
Bel Canto Paramount Home Video, 1982.
"Ashbrook, William." Lucia di Lammermoor, The New Grove Dictionary of Opera,
Volume Three. New York, NY, Mcmillian Press 1992.
Donizetti, Gaetano. ALucia di Lammermoor.@
EMI Classics. CD-ROM. Stadtische Oper,
Berlin: Semder Freies Berlin; 1995.

Manon Lescaut Critique

Manon Lescaut Critique

Manon Lescaut was a very enjoyable opera from start to finish. This critique will show what I thought about it.

What I didn't like

I found nothing to not like about this opera. After listening to it on CD for over five years, watching it on video got me to fully understand the story behind it.

What I did like

The major thing that I liked about this opera was that it featured the soprano Kiri Te Kanawa. This was the first time I ever saw her sing in an opera, and enjoy her passionate voice. I saw Kiri Te Kanawa on other occasions, but this one was nothing compared to those occasions. This made me look forward to seeing her in other operas in the future.

Another thing that I liked about this opera was that it got me to hear parts of the opera that I have not heard on my CD yet. As soon as I get a chance, I will listen to these parts either whilie I am on my computer, or in my car.

Special Aspects

The only special aspect was that this opera featured another singer that I heard about named Placido Domingo. I found this to be a real pleasure to hear from a famous tenor as well as a famous soprano. I am hoping to hear or see something featuring things like this again.

The Story Behind Manon Lescaut

The Story Behind Manon Lescaut

Manon Lescaut was Puccini's first huge success. This essay will describe the story behind this opera.

Act I

The first act takes place in a village. Des Grieux reads poetry to an audience of people hoping to impress a woman to fall in love with him. This does not work for him. However, a coach arrives carring Manon and Lescaut. Des Grieux introduces himself and askes Manon her name. She replies telling him that her name is Manon Lescaut. Her brother calls her to the inn, and Manon tells Des Grieux that she will see him again at night. When Manon sees Des Grieux, she tells him that when she leaves, she will be forced to join a convent, which is a life that she does not want. Des Grieux offers to take her away from this life. After their conversation, a student suggests that Manon run off to Paris with him. That's exactly what she does. When her father comes looking for Manon, Lescaut tells him that she ran off with a student to Paris. After hearing about this, they both start after them.

Act II

The second act takes place in a luxurious room in Paris, where Manon is living a life of luxury. She has left Des Grieux, and wants to rejoin him. When Des Grieux arrives, he is upset about Manon leaving him for this life, and he refuses to reunite with Manon. Manon then pleads very hard to get Des Grieux to reunite with her. Des Grieux eventually gives in and they are both reunited. After this happens, Lescaut arrives to warn Manon that her father sent soldiers out to arrest her for running away from joining the convent. Manon tries to gather her treasures together, but Des Grieux and Lescaut try to convince Manon that she must leave now. After Manon gathers her jewels, she goes for the door, but it is too late. She gets arrested.

Act III

The third act takes place outside a harbor where Manon is being held prisoner. She is to be banished to America. Des Grieux arrives to attempt to break Manon out of her holding cell to be with her. The attempt fails because the guards arrive to escort the women from the prison to the ship that will take them to America. Des Grieux tries to comfort Manon, but is overpowered by the guards. He offers his services as a cabin boy on the ship just to be with Manon. The captain agrees to his terms, and Des Grieux goes to America with all the women incuding Manon.

Act IV

The fourth act takes place in a desert outside of New Orleans. Manon is dying from heat exhaustion , but Des Grieux is still able to move along. Des Grieux offers to find water and shelter for the both of them, but Manon wants to be with him no matter what. Manon eventually gives in and lets Des Grieux look around for shelter or water. While Des Grieux is out looking, Manon thinks he left her, but Des Grieux returns to tell Manon that there is no water or shelter in sight. As a result Manon dies from heat exhaustion in Des Grieux's arms and the opera ends.