2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
MUSS2825 Opera North: Opera in Practice
20 creditsClass Size: 25
Module manager: Prof Edward Venn
Email: e.j.venn@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2023/24
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 observe the production process at Opera North (when possible attending rehearsals and performances at Opera North and The Grand Theatre in Leeds) – from model showings through rehearsals to final performances. 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 type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Lecture | 8 | 1.00 | 8.00 |
Seminar | 12 | 1.00 | 12.00 |
Private study hours | 180.00 | ||
Total Contact hours | 20.00 | ||
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 (or video equivalents as appropriate)
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 type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
Essay or Dissertation | Literature Review 1600-1800 words | 25.00 |
Project | Project Report - Equivalent 3400-3800 words | 75.00 |
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 websiteLast updated: 21/12/2023
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