The birth of opera in a paragraph

May 20, 2009

Only Alex Ross could pull it off so eloquently:

Opera was, in effect, born twice. Its first coming was during the last decade of the sixteenth century, when humanist musicians and poets at the court of the Medici, in Florence, began to present a new kind of sung drama. The inaugural operas had impeccably high-minded subjects—Daphne changing into a laurel tree, Orpheus descending into Hades with his lyre—and were hyper-elegant in execution. Then, in 1637, a travelling troupe set off a fad for opera in the republic of Venice, and the art underwent a mutation. The season took place during Carnival, the time of dissolution and self-reinvention. Melodrama, bawdy humor, and disorienting collisions of high and low permeated the form. Mythological subjects took on a modern edge; castrato singers flamboyantly re-imagined classical heroes; star divas enacted scenes of madness and lament. A paying public showed lusty approval. For the rest of the century, up to five theatres operated in Venice at the same time, drawing an audience that included not only the patrician class but also courtesans, tourists, and a smattering of ordinary people. Opera acquired the intricate mixture of elements—élitist, populist, dignified, demented—which defines the genre to this day.

Read the full article–“Unsung: Recovering the operas of Francesco Cavalli”–in The New Yorker.

“…the best thing I’ve seen on a Wisconsin stage”

May 16, 2009

The standing ovation was almost instantaneous last night; don’t miss tomorrow’s final performance of Faust! 


Lindsay Christians of 77 Square raves, “Madison Opera has produced a fine version of the classic, one anchored by Andy Abrams’ excellent chorus and energized by the superior singing of the leads.” And check out the fantastic review on Dane101, Dane County’s leading blog collective. “Madison Opera’s Faust is the best thing I’ve seen on a Wisconsin stage… Faust brings world class star power to Madison from its lead performers to the exquisite set.” 

Get ready for opening night!

May 15, 2009


Faust opens tonight, and I think Madison audiences are in for a memorable performance. Here are some links to help you get ready!

  • Stream Opera Up Close: The Faust Preview online, just click here to start.
  • Listen to David Pittsinger’s interview on Wisconsin Public Radio.
  • Read our educational guide to Faust, or peruse our collection of the best sources online
  • Check out past posts here on The MadOpera Blog.