History Enchanted in Music – Historical Verism in Ruggero Leoncavallo’s I Medici

• Authors: Agata Czemerys

Abstracts

EN

My study of the historical opera I Medici focuses on an analysis of the work’s dramaturgy. In my opinion, the libretto is the key to understanding operatic dramas; it constitutes their primary foundation, on which the subsequent semantic layers of this naturally syncretic musical genre are constructed. In my paper I have therefore analysed the individual components of the libretto, with special emphasis on the persons of the drama, their personality traits, as well as their musical representations in Leoncavallo’s work. Analysis of the dramaturgical aspects of the opera is an essential first step to a consideration of the musical layer, which lies at the heart of my research. In my paper, I have followed the path mapped out by musicologist Luca Zoppelli; however, his work is only the starting point for a more detailed study of the opera’s expressive qualities and the procedures applied for the musical representation of veristic ideas. Verity – not only in the historical sense – becomes a leading category which unifies the opera at every level, from its original source recorded in the chronicles to the composer’s presentation of the story.

Keywords

EN

Ruggero Leoncavallo; I Medici; Italian opera; veristic opera; verismo

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Jagielloński. Koło Naukowe Studentów Muzykologii UJ
• Journal: Kwartalnik Młodych Muzykologów UJ
• Year: 2020
• Issue: 4(47) ENG
• Pages: 139-155

Dates

published

2020

Contributors

author

Agata Czemerys

• The Chopin University of Music
• The University of Warsaw

• https://orcid.org/0000000301221609

References

• Gmys M., Między Wagnerem a Verdim: „I Medici” Ruggera Leoncavalla, „Res Facta Nova” 12 (21) 2011.
• Leoncavallo R., I Medici. Azione storica in quattro atti, Edoardo Sonzogno Editore, Milano 1893.
• Little M.E., Gavotte, w: Grove Music Online, https://www.oxfordmusiconl ine.com/grovemusic/view/ 10. 1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000010774 [dostęp: 18.06.2020].
• Mianowski J., Semantyka tonacji w niemieckich dziełach operowych XVIII–XIX wieku, Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2000.
• Targioni-Tozzetti G., Menasci G., Cavaleria rusticana, Casa Musicale Sonzogno, Milano 1890.
• Zoppelli L., I Medici e Wagner, w: Letteratura, musica e teatro al tempo di Ruggero Leoncavallo: atti del 2. Convegno internazionale Ruggero Leoncavallo nel suo tempo: Locarno, Biblioteca Cantonale 7-8-9 ottobre 1993, red. J. Maehder, L. Guiot, Casa Musicale Sonzogno, Milano 1993.
• Żaboklicki K., Historia literatury włoskiej, PWN, Warszawa 2008.

Identifiers

DOI

10.4467/23537094KMMUJ.20.045.13918

Biblioteka Nauki

2176098