Musical Performances

Musicals

Musical theatre, or a musical, is a form of performance that combines spoken dialogue, songs, acting, and dance to tell a story. Many popular children's movies or stories have been adapted into musicals including Matilda and Shrek.

Watch this short clip from the musical Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda. As you watch, you will notice this performance includes music and dialogue through singing/rap, dancing, and acting.

Video: "Alexander Hamilton" Official Clip 2 | Hamilton | Disney+

Walt Disney Studios. (2020, Jul 17). "Alexander Hamilton" Official Clip 2 | Hamilton | Disney+. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/CurgvjZ7hcM?si=bmaFrzBxYRgCujUP

Click on the button at the bottom of the video to access the closed captions.

cell 1

cell 2

Operas

Opera is a dramatic story told through song. The actors are trained singers who sing their lines instead of speaking them. The music for an opera is played live by an orchestra. An aria is a song for a solo voice, and a duet is a song for two performers. A recitative is a type of singing where the performer sings text with a speaking rhythm. These operatic elements allow the performer to move the story or plot forward using lyrics or dialogue.

Directions: Watch the video for an example of what singers may sound like in an opera. Click the closed caption button at the bottom of the video to see the English translation of what he is singing. In this video, which type of song is performed, an aria or a duet?

Video: Rigoletto - 'La donna è mobile' (Verdi; Vittorio Grigòlo, The Royal Opera)

Royal Opera House. (2017, Oct 23). Rigoletto - 'La donna è mobile'. (Verdi; Vittorio Grigòlo, The Royal Opera). [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/wKoa3BHHbB8?si=oe4MNCeaM8zFSOaE

Click on the button at the bottom of the video to access the closed captions.

Lyrics in Italian

DUCA
La donna è mobile
Qual piuma al vento,
Muta d'accento
E di pensiero.
Sempre un amabile
Leggiadro viso,
In pianto o in riso
È menzognero.

È sempre misero
Chi a lei s'affida,
Chi le confida
Mal cauto il core!
Pur mai non sentesi
Felice appieno
Chi su quel seno
Non liba amore!

La donna è mobile, ecc.

Lyrics in English

DUKE
Women are as fickle
as feathers in the wind,
simple in speech,
and simple in mind.
Always the loveable,
sweet, laughing face,
but laughing or crying,
the face is false for sure.

If you rely on her
you will regret it,
and if you trust her
you are undone!
Yet none can call himself
fully contented
who has not tasted
love in her arms!

Women are as fickle, etc.

Click the Next button in the lower right to move forward in the module.