Pixel International Conferences

In this presentation, I will discuss the basic priciples underlying the teaching approach and methodology of the course on W.A. Mozart’s opera buffa Don Giovanni that is offered by the Department of Music in conjunction with the Language Centre. I will also discuss the aims and objectives as well as the resources and mode of delivery of the course.

The course engages students in a detailed study of one of the major works of the operatic canon from a wide variety of perspectives. In particular, exploring the nature of the interaction between the libretto’s poetic text and its musical setting is meant to encourage the study of operas in their original language. Fundamental to the course is the premise that it is impossible to study the music and drama of this opera without a detailed examination of the poetry of Da Ponte’s libretto and its interaction with Mozart’s setting.

The course is divided into two parts. The first part is devoted to a close reading of Da Ponte’s text and its possible implications for Mozart’s setting, and to ways of approaching operatic texts more generally. While the course offers an introduction to the basic notions of the Italian language phonetics, morphology, syntax, versification, and history, students are expected to have some familiarity with and/or formal training in the Italian language (CEFR A1-2).