Rappresentatione di Anima, et di Corpo
Encyclopedia
Emilio de Cavalieri regarded himself as the composer of the first opera
or oratorio
, with the Rappresentatione di anima e di corpo, (libretto by Agostino Manni). Whether or not he was actually the first is subject to some academic debate, as is whether the work is better categorized as an opera
or an oratorio
.
Since the Rappresentatione is fully staged, in three acts with a spoken prologue, it can be considered to be the first surviving opera as such. It was presented twice in February 1600.
On the 10th November 1600 Emilio de Cavalieri wrote a letter arguing that he, not Jacopo Peri
was the true reviver of Greek style acting with singing, i.e. opera. Peri later deferred to him in the preface to the published
version of Euridice in 1601.
It was imagined, almost certainly wrongly, that Greek drama was sung, not declaimed, therefore opera was a Renaissance
revival of ancient practice.
There is are modern editions of the "opera": Emilio de Cavalieri, (ed. Philip Thorby), Rappresentatione di anima et di corpo, (King's Music, 1994) and the American Institute of Musicology, edition of 2007. (Modern score & 1 vol. of Facsimilies and translations) and a recording directed by Sergio Varto. Another recording was made by the ensembles Magnificat and The Whole Noyse with Judith Nelson (Anima) and Paul Hillier (Corpo), CD label Koch. There is a video recording of a concert performance conducted by Lorenzo Tozzi with the Sinfonico Romano. In 2003 at Lüdwigsburg Festival the conductor Teodor Currentzis
presented a concert performance of "Rappresentatione" in instrumentation and performance adaptation for 8 singers and 8 instruments by Alexander Shchetynsky
.
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...
or oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
, with the Rappresentatione di anima e di corpo, (libretto by Agostino Manni). Whether or not he was actually the first is subject to some academic debate, as is whether the work is better categorized as an 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...
or an oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
.
Since the Rappresentatione is fully staged, in three acts with a spoken prologue, it can be considered to be the first surviving opera as such. It was presented twice in February 1600.
On the 10th November 1600 Emilio de Cavalieri wrote a letter arguing that he, not Jacopo Peri
Jacopo Peri
Jacopo Peri was an Italian composer and singer of the transitional period between the Renaissance and Baroque styles, and is often called the inventor of opera...
was the true reviver of Greek style acting with singing, i.e. opera. Peri later deferred to him in the preface to the published
version of Euridice in 1601.
It was imagined, almost certainly wrongly, that Greek drama was sung, not declaimed, therefore opera was a Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
revival of ancient practice.
There is are modern editions of the "opera": Emilio de Cavalieri, (ed. Philip Thorby), Rappresentatione di anima et di corpo, (King's Music, 1994) and the American Institute of Musicology, edition of 2007. (Modern score & 1 vol. of Facsimilies and translations) and a recording directed by Sergio Varto. Another recording was made by the ensembles Magnificat and The Whole Noyse with Judith Nelson (Anima) and Paul Hillier (Corpo), CD label Koch. There is a video recording of a concert performance conducted by Lorenzo Tozzi with the Sinfonico Romano. In 2003 at Lüdwigsburg Festival the conductor Teodor Currentzis
Teodor Currentzis
Teodor Currentzis is a Greek conductor, musician and actor, who works in Russia.-Biography:Currentzis was born in Athens, and at the age of 4 began to take piano lessons, after which, at the age 7, he began violin lessons. He entered the National Conservatory, Athens at the age of 12, in the...
presented a concert performance of "Rappresentatione" in instrumentation and performance adaptation for 8 singers and 8 instruments by Alexander Shchetynsky
Alexander Shchetynsky
Alexander Shchetynsky is a Ukrainian composer. Born on 22 June 1960 in Kharkiv, in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union. His work list includes compositions in various forms ranging from solo instrumental to orchestral, choral pieces and operas....
.