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2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

MUSS2825 Opera North: Opera in Practice

20 creditsClass Size: 25

Module manager: Dr Bryan White
Email: b.white@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module is taught in partnership with Opera North, England’s national opera company of the north, based in Leeds. Students will have the opportunity to observe the operatic production process and to study opera in practice through a number of critical perspectives. Opera North will be introduced as a company in its artistic, regional and historical contexts. Under the guidance of tutors, students will then be expected to observe rehearsals (at Opera North and The Grand Theatre in Leeds) from various stages of the production process – from model showing to orchestra run, normally during the winter season (late November to February). There is a broad choice of critical angles and perspectives in studying these operas, which will also be introduced in seminars and lectures. These typically include musicological, ethnomusicological, dramaturgical, contextual, historiographical, cultural, conceptual and semiotic approaches, as well as work with literary, dramatic, musical and cultural policy (re)sources. The University’s newly acquired Opera North archive (held in the Special Collections) will also support students’ investigations of operatic practice. Students are expected to choose one of the operas from Opera North’s winter season as a research topic for their final project.

Objectives

This module aims to introduce students to specific topics within the field of opera studies, engaging with the professional opera company, Opera North, based in Leeds, as a practical exemplar for investigation. Students will be involved in the development of project work that engages with the multi-modal and interdisciplinary practice of opera. Students will combine theoretical approaches to opera studies with practical observations of Opera North; they will gain ‘insider’ knowledge of Opera North and consider the relationship between theory and practice as it concerns historical and modern operatic production and performance.

Learning outcomes
Students will:
- demonstrate their understanding of the interdisciplinary field of opera studies
- apply appropriate historical, analytical and critical methodologies to the study of opera;
- demonstrate the development of critical observation skills in relation to operatic production and performance;
- develop a sophisticated awareness of contextual approaches to operatic production and performance;
- demonstrate the ability to creatively combine practical observation with theoretical study in the form of a final project.

Skills outcomes
Applied dramaturgical/musicological/historical/literary research skills in opera and performance


Syllabus

An indicative syllabus for the module:
1. Introduction to Opera North and the field of opera studies
2. Approaches to observing opera in practice
3-5: Lecture/seminars on the operas in the ON winter series
6. Opera and language
7. Opera and media
8. Composer/librettist collaboration

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture81.008.00
Seminar121.0012.00
Private study hours180.00
Total Contact hours20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Students will be directed to online resources developed to support the module as appropriate, and a reading list will be provided. Students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of the relevant research context for their work.

Private study time will typically include:
• 20 hours of literature review preparation,
• 1.5 hours of writing up notes per lecture (12 hours in total),
• 2 hours of preparation per seminar (24 hours in total),
• 70 hours for creation of the final project,
• 32 hours of self-directed background reading, listening and viewing in relevant opera studies, and those operas assigned as focus operas,
• Around 20 hours observing practical work in rehearsal and at Opera North

One of the twelve scheduled seminar sessions may be substituted for individual or group tutorials as appropriate. In this case, students should spend the additional private study time preparing for and working on ideas and approaches discussed in the tutorial.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Opportunities for formative feedback will come in the form of seminar sessions in which students will be expected to express their opinions on their reading and viewing, and to share their observations of rehearsal and performances at Opera North. In seminars students will share their developing work on their literature reviews; they will be expected to submit a project proposal in semester 2 for approval by the module tutors.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Literature Review1600-1800 words25.00
ProjectEquivalent to 3400-3800 words75.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 07/05/2019

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