Re: Questionable Program Notes about Recitative & Aria in Handel
CultureWlf@aol.com
Sun, 11 Apr 1999 21:10:37 EDT
Implying that recitative is static and arias forward plot is really quite
ridiculous, especially in a typical Italian opera seria. Metestasian opera
has very strict rules governing the use of emotions, and makes use of the
Doctrine of the Affects in saying that one character may only feel one thing
at a time, and may not change feelings until acted on by something else.
(Very Newtonian idea, if you ask me). As my opera professor taught me, the
recitative is action, the aria is reaction and usually of a more
introspective and sentimental nature. (Once, I did hear him say that
recitative is wonderful, other than the fact that it is extremely boring,
musically speaking). The reason for the large number of arias in a
Metestasian opera or anything at that time in Italy is due to this doctrine,
and having a dozen or so arias lets the listener gradually come across many
different moods that the character may have.
I have not seen anything in my research that goes contrary to what I have
said.
Tom Dawkins
Brandeis University