Italian Language for Opera 2

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

60 hours

Italian Language for Opera 1

None

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Students will continue their study of Italian phonetics, pronunciation, basic grammar (including the conjugation of verbs in the present, present perfect and past tenses), dictionary usage for literal translation of texts being prepared for operatic performances, and language coaching in the Italian operatic repertoire. This study of Italian language and diction will be applied to specific role(s) that students may be undertaking in operas being performed during the semester and/or to other operatic repertoire. Students will continue to develop their Italian language skills through a range of activities aimed at developing their writing, reading, speaking, listening and grammatical capacities.

On completion of the subject, students will be able to:

• demonstrate professional level skills in the pronunciation, articulation, and enunciation of the Italian language in operatic performance;
• demonstrate further understanding and application of the general principles of the pronunciation, articulation, and enunciation of the Italian language in opera production relevant to their roles within a fully professional opera company; and
• demonstrate further development of knowledge of the stylistic conventions and tools specific to the articulators, the International Phonetic Alphabet, and the speech sounds of the different vowels and consonants in relation to the opera repertoire;
• understand the basics of grammar and syntax for literal translation and interpretation of texts from the repertoire of Italian opera; and,
• produce and understand increasingly complex texts in Italian.

50%: Continuous assessment of language-based work including written and oral production.

20%: Phonetic transcription exercises (up to four).

30%: Final performance and annotated write-up.

Adams, D. (2007), A Handbook of Diction for Singers: Italian, German, French, Second Edition (OUP).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• demonstrate the capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection;
• demonstrate skills in evaluative thinking, and in the application of theoretical / analytical criteria to practical outcomes; and
• demonstrate analytical skills in the context of artistic performance.