HUMN 1101 – Introduction to Humanities
Virtual Live Performance Field Trip Worksheet
Assignment Description:
This assignment is meant for students to gain experience with operatic theatrical performances. Students must apply knowledge from the course lessons, as well as knowledge learned from basic web research, to help answer questions in the worksheet below.
Assignment Instructions:
- Choose the performance
- Choose the performance you would like to watch from the list of choices below and click on the link to view the performance on YouTube:
- Mozart’s Don Giovanni (with English subtitles)
- Puccini’s La Boheme (with English subtitles)
- Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (with English subtitles)
- Rossini’s The Barber of Seville (with English subtitles)
- Bizet’s Carmen (with English subtitles)
- If you would prefer something more modern and in English, you can choose to watch the famous Broadway musical production Rent (with English captions)
- The Metropolitan Opera will be streaming encore performances during this time, with a changing schedule of which performance will be playing.
- You can view the current schedule at this link
- When you are ready to watch a performance, go to the main page of the Metropolitan Opera site and scroll down, then click on “Watch Now.”
- Watch the performance
- Watch the performance on your computer or cast it on your TV, if you can! All linked videos are HD.
- Have this worksheet or a notebook and pencil handy, just in case you may want to write something down, but don’t worry about it too much – just sit back and enjoy the performance!
- Complete the worksheet
- After you have watched the performance, compile your notes, do any basic research that may be necessary, and type your answers into the worksheet blanks.
- Save your finished worksheet with the answers typed in the blanks, and then upload it and submit it to Blackboard to complete the assignment.
- Do not copy & paste answers from any source – plagiarism of any kind will result in a zero for the assignment grade. Write your answers in your own words.
Assignment Worksheet:
Type your answers into the worksheet blanks below.
1. TITLE OF CHOSEN OPERA
List the title of the opera that you chose to watch for your virtual performance.
Title of Opera:
Mozart’s Don Giovanni’s( with English subtitles)
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2. COMPOSER & WRITER:
The video may tell you this information, or you may need to do some basic web research to answer these questions. List the name of the composer of the music for the opera, as well as the name of the writer of the libretto (the words and the story). These can be different names, or it can be the same person who wrote both!
Composer of the Music:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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Writer of the Libretto:
Lorenzo Da Pento
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3. PROTAGONIST
Which character is the protagonist (the main character) of this story? Explain why below by writing at least two full sentences.
Who is the Protagonist?
Don Giovanni
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Explain why (at least 2 full sentences)
Don Giovanni’s route is obstructed by the Commendatore, restricting him to brawl duel. He ends up murdering Commendatore using his sword and runs away with Leporello. Donna Anna gets back with her fiance, Don Ottavio, and very frightened to find dead in a pound of blood.
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4. ANTAGONIST
Which character is the antagonist (the opposition to the main character) of this story? If the antagonist is not one specific character, then list the name of the institution or aspect of society in which the protagonist conflicts. Explain why they are the antagonist below by writing at least two full sentences.
Who or What is the Antagonist?
The antagonist character in the opera are all individual who were against the bad characters exhibited by Don Giovanni. They include, Don Anna, Masetto and Don Ottavio
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Explain why (at least 2 full sentences):
Don Giovanni murdered the father to Don Anna, she became an antagonist after realizing that he actually killed him. Don Elvira, an antagonist disliked the promiscuous character portrayed by Don Giovanni and informed the society around to shun against him.
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5. DRAMATIC GENRE
Which dramatic genre is this opera an example of? Think about how it compares to the terms tragedy and comedy from Chapter 2 – is this a tragedy or a comedy or perhaps a little of both? Explain your choice below in at least 3 full sentences below, using your knowledge of these terms from the course.
Is this Tragedy, Comedy, or something else?
The opera is a tragedy.
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Explain why (at least 3 full sentences):
Though the opera has series comedies, it can be analyzed to be more of a tragedy. The opera has numerous suffering case and criminal event, including the murder Of Don Anna’s father. The ending of the opera portray a total tragedy, the main character, Don Giovanni finds fate.
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6. COSTUMING
Describe the use of costuming in this performance. Are the costumes supposed to look like they are from a specific time period or are they contemporary; do the costumes help to distinguish between specific characters (i.e. hero vs. villain); were the costumes realistic or more stylized; and how do the costumes relate to the story? Describe what you noticed below in at least 4 full sentences.
Describe the costuming (at least 4 full sentences):
The costumes used illustrated the appearance expected in Mozart’s time rather than of past Spanish customs worn in 16th or 17th century. It is still an easy task differentiating the character based on the costumes. The heroes were wearing elegant, stylized clothes, the villain customs were basically common but contemporary. The patterns in them were formed to enhance accessibility to the spectactors and increase the intimacy.
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7. SET DESIGN
Describe the use of set design and scenery in this performance. Were there many set changes; were the sets supposed to remind the audience of anything specific (i.e. can you tell the interior set is supposed to be a fancy, upper-class house versus a more austere, lower-class house?); were the sets more realistic or more stylized; and how did the set design relate to the story? Describe what you noticed below in at least four full sentences.
Describe the set design (at least 4 full sentences):
The set design characterizes a white cubical mansion moving around having infinite maze-like doors and staircases. There are numerous sceneries for people to see, confront, astonish and be attentive. The set design was designed to uniformly rotate and reveal new world to the audience. The set arrangement was very realistic and conformed to the theme of the opera
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8. PROPS
Describe the use of accessories in this performance. Did any specific accessories stand out as relevant to the story; were the accessories supposed to look like they are from a particular period or are they contemporary; were the props more realistic or stylized; and how did the use of accessories add to the story and the drama? Describe what you noticed below in at least four full sentences.
Describe the use of props (at least 4 full sentences):
In the opera usage of props is paramount at given instances. During the official address on the arrival of Commendatore trombones were used. Generating a magnified sound, making it louder and clear, contemplating the entrance of a spiritual leader. The trombones use were stylized, contemporary and made a fine transformation of the opera.
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9. LIGHTING
Describe the use of lighting in this performance. Note any use of spotlights, colored lights, lighting on only one portion of the stage vs. lighting the entire scene, back-lighting, etc. Was the lighting used to create any special effects? How did the use of lighting help to enhance the story and the drama? Describe what you noticed below in at least four full sentences.
Describe the use of lighting (at least 4 full sentences):
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10. ACTING
Discuss the acting in this opera. Were the characters believable? Did the actors/actresses project the energy needed to engage the audience? You may discuss the actors in general or discuss a particular actor that you think merits attention. Describe what you noticed below in at least four full sentences.
Describe the acting (at least 4 full sentences):
he characters were believable. They gave their best to engage the audience. According to Sloss, all members ready for the task and eager to take opera’s composite and harsh music. Mozart prepared enough to produce music from Da Ponte’s word. He had traveled in every part of Europe with company of his father and comprehended every style in music, language used and the genre that can be used in various circumstances. Mozart cherished games, having fun and petty humor. A collection of his traits including his German comprehension of symphonic organization, no digital compiler would think of getting into a competition with Mozart operas.
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11. THE PLOT / THE STORY
Briefly sum up the story/plot of the opera from beginning to end in at least 5 full sentences below.
Describe the plot (at least 5 full sentences):
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12. MUSIC
This is an opera, so the music is very important!
Discuss three (3) specific songs from the opera in the blanks below. Think about how the song related to the overall plot, both in music and in words. Discuss how the song was sung by the performer. And discuss your thoughts in general about the songs. Write at least 4 full sentences about each song.
For each song, provide a time-stamped YouTube link to the section of the video where the song begins.
- In order to create a time-stamped link, simply pause the video at the spot you want (the start of the chosen song), and then click on the “Share” icon. In the pop-up window, make sure to click the box at the bottom that says “Start at [time]” – then you can copy & paste the link into the worksheet.
Link to Song #1: ______________________________________________________________________
Discussion of Song #1 (at least 4 full sentences):
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Link to Song #2: ______________________________________________________________________
Discussion of Song #2 (at least 4 full sentences):
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Link to Song #3: ______________________________________________________________________
Discussion of Song #3 (at least 4 full sentences):
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13. YOUR OVERALL THOUGHTS ON THE OPERA
And finally, briefly write your thoughts and opinions on this opera performance. What did you think was successful? What do you think could use some improvement? What was your overall experience, and how did you enjoy the performance? Be as specific as you can, and offer alternatives for any criticisms. Write at least 5 full sentences.
Write your review of the opera performance (at least 5 full sentences):
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