Besides performing arts in seventh grade, Callista Chorale is the only choir I've ever been in. So, being new to all of this I wanted to see what it is that inspires operas to be written. I decided to do it on "Va Pensiero", which is one of the operas we have been singing in class and will be performing at the choir concert. Giuseppe Verdi wrote the opera "Nabucco" in 1842 which included a third act called Va Pensiero, or in english, "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves." The story behind this is based on the Jewish people who were exiled into Babylon after their homeland was conquered. One of the verses that shows a glimpse of its meaning is "O, my homeland, so beautiful and lost! O memories, so dear and yet so deadly!"
Because Va Pensiero is a very strong piece, Verdi became known as a major composer in 19th century Italy. Verdi's wife and kids died during this time, so he wrote this opera during a really depressing period of his life. I think that the tragedy he faced probably helped him to write such a powerful piece.
More recently, people have been remixing Va Pensiero. All of the remixes I've heard sound really awful! Its weird to see what the classic form started out as originally and what they turned out to be. Classic operas and modern music styles don't seem to go together very well, at least in the one below. Heres a link to one of the remixes if you want to hear it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3eKJ5mNpfs
I agree that Va Pensiero is a fantastic piece. With opera pieces, feelings and emotion play a big part during the process of writing and singing. The fact that during the time of writing his piece, his family dies, really puts into perspective what writers are thinking when they write down notes and words onto a page. Not trying to be insensitive, but depressing pieces tend to be the best. Depressing thoughts can be very powerful and disturbing. So to be able to put your thoughts and feelings down on a page is a type of therapy for some. Being able to communicate through music that describes your feelings helps people around you to understand. This is why dynamics are so important when performing a piece because you want to show the audience the feelings of the piece.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the issue of remixes, are you really surprised? I listened to the remix and it is pretty terrible. The electronic beat in the back does not go with it at all! People are always trying to make things more modern that are beautiful just the way they are. I don't understand why people cant just leave old, classic things alone. Not everything needs or has to be modernized and I think that is becoming a problem in present day society!
Thank you for showing me what Va Pensiero is all about and what makes it such a powerful piece.