Aria di sorbetto
Encyclopedia
The Aria di sorbetto, or "sherbet
aria
", was a convention of Italian
opera
in the early nineteenth century.
s would rarely listen to an opera straight through, preferring instead to talk among themselves, eat, and drink for much of the performance. The aria di sorbetto would come fairly late in the second act of the opera, and it would afford vendors the chance to hawk their wares one last time before the evening ended. As most of the vendors sold Sorbetto (a Sorbet) and Gelato
(an ice cream) and other sweets, such arias came to be known as "sherbet arias" because of what they signified to the audience.
opportunities in the piece. Because the aria was so unimportant, its composition would often be handed off to an inferior composer
, one who received no credit for his efforts.
Today, most performances keep the aria di sorbetto intact, rather than cutting it, and audiences are expected to listen to it as they would any other portion of the opera.
Sherbet (U.S.)
Sorbet is a frozen dessert made from sweetened water flavored with fruit , wine, and/or liqueur. The origin of sorbet is variously explained as either a Roman invention, or a Middle Eastern drink charbet, made of sweetened fruit juice and water...
aria
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
", was a convention of Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in the early nineteenth century.
Background
Nineteenth-century audienceAudience
An audience is a group of people who participate in a show or encounter a work of art, literature , theatre, music or academics in any medium...
s would rarely listen to an opera straight through, preferring instead to talk among themselves, eat, and drink for much of the performance. The aria di sorbetto would come fairly late in the second act of the opera, and it would afford vendors the chance to hawk their wares one last time before the evening ended. As most of the vendors sold Sorbetto (a Sorbet) and Gelato
Gelato
Gelato is the italian word for ice cream and sorbet. Italians use the word gelato to mean a sweet treat that is served frozen. Indeed, gelato, just like ice cream, is made with Milk, cream, various sugars, flavoring including fresh fruit and nut purees....
(an ice cream) and other sweets, such arias came to be known as "sherbet arias" because of what they signified to the audience.
Conventions
The aria di sorbetto was usually given to a secondary character, and was inserted into a scene which had little bearing on the plot of the opera, except tangentially. The character would normally be one who had had no other soloSolo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
opportunities in the piece. Because the aria was so unimportant, its composition would often be handed off to an inferior composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, one who received no credit for his efforts.
Today, most performances keep the aria di sorbetto intact, rather than cutting it, and audiences are expected to listen to it as they would any other portion of the opera.
Examples
- "Sventurata mi credea" - Gioacchino RossiniGioacchino RossiniGioachino Antonio Rossini was an Italian composer who wrote 39 operas as well as sacred music, chamber music, songs, and some instrumental and piano pieces...
, La CenerentolaLa CenerentolaLa Cenerentola, ossia La bontà in trionfo is an operatic dramma giocoso in two acts by Gioachino Rossini. The libretto was written by Jacopo Ferretti, based on the fairy tale Cinderella...
, sung by Clorinda - "Le femmine d'Italia" - Rossini, L'italiana in AlgeriL'italiana in AlgeriL'italiana in Algeri is an operatic dramma giocoso in two acts by Gioachino Rossini to an Italian libretto by Angelo Anelli, based on his earlier text set by Luigi Mosca...
, sung by Haly; this aria is known to not have been composed by Rossini - "Il vecchiotto cerca moglie" - Rossini, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, sung by the maid Berta