MUSICAL DRAMATURGY

The course falls between the related and integrative teaching of the contemporary curriculum of the Master's Degree in "History of Arts and Conservation of Artistic Heritage", with the aim of dealing with research topics in the field of musical dramaturgy, using a methodology strongly characterized by interdisciplinarity, a characteristic demand from musical theater, a real semiological monstrum. The student should be able to develop a critical conscience on the concept of dramaturgy, immanent to different declinations (theater of speech, lyric opera and so on), and at the same time to find a real relationship with a musical repertoire made not only of history, but also of a precise relationship with contemporary artistic crafts (concertation, direction, set design).

1. Knowledge and understanding: understand and be able to analyze critical and theoretical texts that deal with musical dramaturgy, know how to use the resources offered by computer platforms, with regard to audiovisual sources.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: develop a critical conscience in relation to some essential works of musical theater.
3. Ability to judge: ability to reflect on the dramaturgical consequences of precise musical choices; formulate conscious exegesis, in relation to the social history of the arts and to politics.
4. Communication skills: reaching an advanced domain of public communication, in close dialogue with one's colleagues and interacting with the teacher, knowing how to exploit the many possibilities that the research offers modern means of communication.
5. Learning skills: knowing how to handle critical texts and bibliographies.

At the end of the course the student will have improved his knowledge of the European musical theater, thanks to the exemplary case in question, and attended a critical methodology appropriate to the peculiarities of the work in music, placed in its historical context.

No prior knowledge is required. The ability to read music is NOT required; in each lecture, the professor will introduce the musical concepts necessary to the dramaturgical analysis.

The first part of the class will focus on the theory of musical theater, also in the light of classical and modern theories of theater ad drama, aiming at getting the students acquainted with the "basic workings" of this art form. At the center of the discussion will lay the analysis of the forms of temporality constructed by musical theater and on the interplay, intrinsic to musical theater, between multifarious artistic languages, which makes it a form of multimedia art in its own rights. Then, the second part of the class will tackle the dramaturgical and morphological analysis of one work from the opera repertoire, seeking to apply theoretical concepts to both textual components (libretto, score) and visual and performative ones. This year's course will focus on one of the most famous operas of all times: "La traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi.

Gloria Staffieri, Un teatro tutto cantato: introduzione all’opera italiana, Roma, Carocci, 2012.
Carl Dahlhaus, Drammaturgia dell’opera italiana, a cura di Lorenzo Bianconi, Torino, EDT, 2005.
Giuseppe Verdi. La traviata, a cura di Michele Girardi, Fondazione Teatro La Fenice di Venezia, Venezia, 2009.

Every week, I will upload on Moodle any material analyzed during class (sources, documents, slides, listenings, videos) and any other non-mandatory (but highly recommended) reading.

Verification of the course preparation will be conducted by means of an oral examination. Three questions will be asked, relating to the contents of the textbooks included in the programme and the opera analyzed during the class

oral

Grading and assessment criteria:
The grading criteria will take into consideration the correctness and propriety in the use of theoretical lexicon (30%), the punctuality and extent of knowledge of the topics explored in depth in class and in any case learnt through the study of the exam bibliography (30%); the ability to critically elaborate the knowledge acquired to the case studies presented from time to time (30%), without forgetting a focus on the care of oral exposition (10%).

Grades in bands 18-22 will be awarded where the aforementioned points reach a sufficient level; grades in bands 23-26 will be awarded where the aforementioned points reach a fair level; grades in bands 27-30 will be awarded where the aforementioned points reach an excellent level; honours will be awarded where the aforementioned points reach an excellent level.

Frontal lessons integrated with readings, musical examples and guided listening.

During the first lesson the assessment methods and the structure of the course will be presented. Attendance is recommended.

Ca ’Foscari applies Italian law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) for the support and accommodation services available to students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities. If you have a motor, visual, hearing or other disability (Law 17/1999) or a specific learning disorder (Law 170/2010) and you require support (classroom assistance, technological aids for carrying out exams or exams individualized, accessible format material, note retrieval, specialist tutoring to support the study, interpreters or other) contact the Disability and DSA office disita@unive.it.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development