opera paper

Orfeo plot summary is included below.
Dido and Aeneas libretto is available here: http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/dido.htmlLinks to an external site.



Watch both operas in their entirety (2.5 hours of music total).
Compare and contrast:
-the stories (summarize and compare)
-use of the chorus in each opera
-harmonic language of the two composers; here are the scores:

Orfeo full score.pdfDownload Orfeo full score.pdf

Dido and Aeneas full vocal score.pdfDownload Dido and Aeneas full vocal score.pdf

-instrumentation of the ensembles
-use of the instruments within the operas
-solo arias and vocal ensemble selections
-your personal commentary about the performances
-emotional impact of the operas on you!

I anticipate your papers being ca. 5-7 pages in length (1.5 spacing).
Include a bibliography at the end for additional sources consulted