Opera is a dramatic story told through song. It is considered by many to be the most complete art form, combining all the elements of art, words, music, drama and dance. What is unique about opera is its use of music to convey the entire story. Therefore, opera has had a lasting vitality for many centuries.
Opera appeared in Vietnam from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, according to Professor Gianni Kriscak (Italian, teaching theater music at Graz University of Music and Performing Arts, Austria ), opera in Vietnam is still ambiguous. When he had the opportunity to come to Hanoi to teach at the Academy of Music and interact with many students, the professor realized that they only understood a little about opera as well as its history and origins. Other important information in the history of opera's formation and development is completely ignored.
 |
|
Professor Gianni Kriscak and Hien Nguyen Soprano at the book launch. |
That is the reason why Professor Gianni Kriscak and Hien Nguyen Soprano (PhD student at the Central University of Art Education) and Trinh Thi Oanh (vocal lecturer at the Central University of Art Pedagogy) wrote a book titled Research book on the History of Italian opera, and also organizes the concert La Passione .
Through the book, the authors give brief but still complete explanations about what happened in society, political developments, and the role of theater in Italian society. Some of this information describes the situation before the birth of opera and the development of the form.
In fact, there have been many books written about opera in the world, but the Research Book on the History of Italian Opera is a rare work written in Vietnamese. Above all, the authors present a story about a classic cultural achievement of the world but from a light, accessible perspective instead of being too heavy and complicated. The authors do not mention too many names or details and only include in the book the most important and interesting moments in the first stages of the operas.
 |
|
The book provides a lot of information about opera. |
“I thought about writing a book for audiences who are encountering opera culture for the first time. Many Asian musicians think opera means singing and only singing. That is of course completely wrong. Opera was born in Italy, not Germany, France or Russia," said Mr. Gianni Kriscak.
“When it comes to opera, we always know clearly that this is the pinnacle of humanity's art form. However, to deeply understand the history of opera is a complex task, requiring touching on many topics of the entire diverse Italian society during the period at least from the mid-sixteenth century to the mid-19th century. early twentieth century, extending from the Renaissance to nearly the contemporary period.
That job becomes even more difficult in this case. The author group wishes to provide Vietnamese readers with the most concise, easy-to-understand history of Italian opera, specifically through a book: How was opera born and what does that form represent? the people of the Italian peninsula, the way opera reaches the world, the role of opera in human spiritual life..." is the opening part of the book.
Speaking more about her passionate project, Hien Nguyen Soprano expressed: "What I want is for the story to be new, to spread the love of academic music to everyone. Returning from Italy, I realized that classical music still has a limited audience in the country. From the foundation of music theory and vocal techniques I have learned, I have the will to change and diversify classical singing styles, reaching new audiences."
