Assignment # 8

1. Describe the difference between opera, light opera, and musical theater
Opera is an elevated style of musical theater, with works such as Mozart and requires highly trained voices. Light opera is less demanding with spoken words and less trained voices. Musical theater is like a commoner's version of opera. It is light and fun, but can still contain true musical talent.

2. How long does it take for someone to have a fully trained operatic voice?
It can take a very long time to develop their voice, often times it is developed from childhood on. Peak performance is usually obtained after age 30. It requires extreme control of breath and vocal cords.

3. Choose an Opera by Puccini? Describe and interpret.
Manon Lescaut is Puccini's first greatest Opera. It was written in the 1880's and it is set in four places-Amiens, Paris, Le Havre, New Orleans and consists of four acts. In the first act, when Manon arrives Des Grieux falls in love with her at first sight as she exits the coach. Des Grieux wants to meet up with Manon later after she visits the convent. Geronte is also in love with Manon, and plans to obduct her later.  Edmund  overhears and reports back to Des Grieux. Des Grieux declairs his love to Manon and asks her to go to Paris with him, she agrees. Geronte and Lescaut follow their carrage to Paris. In act II- Manon has left Des Grieux, when Geronte shows up to admire Manon she is swooned. Chevalier soon takes her into his arms and Geronte walks in on them. Manon mocks Geronte's age with a mirror. Geronte promises revenge and leaves. Lescaut then enters and warns the couple. Manon must gather her jewlery first, then she is taken to jail for theft. In act III on the street Le Havre, Des Grieux and Lescaut wait for dawn. They wish to save Manon before she is deported to America. As Manon is being put onto the ship to America Des Grieux begs to join her, and the capitan agrees. In act IV, now in New Orleans Manon is ailing and scared. She is scared because she thinks Des Grieux has left her, he returns but she dies in his arms.
My interpretation of this Opera is that it is similar to many operas, a story of love, lost love and sadness. It is about the life of a beautiful woman that is loved by more than one man. This shows that in life, if a woman is loved by one she will probably be loved by many more. Although Des Grieux loves her the most she rejects his love at one point. In the end his love is all Manon wants and she dies waiting for it. It is a very sad story, similar to many told in its time.