Dat Huynh
ART 211
Professor Blanka
Roundtree
February 11, 2018
Anna Bolena Opera
Opera
is one of most famous musical genre that many people enjoy during 19th
century. Thus, there are many different operas are created at this period. The
opera that I choose is named Anna Bolena
composed by Gaetano Donizetti in Italian. He is an Italian opera composer. He
has lots of famous operas, for example, along with Anna Bolena are Lucia di
Lammermoor (1835), La fille
du régiment (1840), and La
favorite (1840). Anne Bolena is
originally premiered in Milan, Teatro Carcano, 1830. This piece of art receives
many compliments from the audience as it shows a part of England’s
history.
The
French term “mise en scene” means “placing on stage” according to the
dictionary. In artistic definition, it is the arrangement of all the elements
that appear in the frame. For example, in the framing, there are actors,
lighting, décor, props and costume. In the creation of a movie, filming work
and frame are also including in the “mise en scene”. The element is the “mise
en scene”, as long as it is a physical object that is on the scene and recorded
by the camera. The director, who in charge of the entire movie set, is
responsible to overlook the “placing on stage”. In my opinion, this arrangement
is very important to any artistic production. Because it is one of the key
part, which steer the production toward the best result and the pleasant view
for the audience. In this case, Anna
Bolena, everything presented on stage are part of the “mise en scene”,
including background of the play, the dresses that ladies are wearing, etc.
The
opera started off with a series of instruments played. There are different
instruments, including, flute, violin, etc. all the instruments are controlled
by a conductor. He helps put the sound together and creates a piece of music
that please the audience. All conductor’s hand movements match with a note. The
music starts to increase its intensity lead to the opening the opera act. The
background of the scene is in King Henry VIII’s castle, England, 1536. The
acting combined with the playing music gives the audiences different emotions
and unexplainable feelings. After the video, I feel angry because the
unfairness of the king to his queen.
In the beginning, we can see Queen
Anne, King Henry VIII’s second wife, are worried and wondering around the
castle. King Henry starts to get bored of Anne after three years of marriage.
The king already has interest on another woman, Jane Seymour. However, Jane is
the queen’s chief lady-in-waiting. Henry comes to see Jane at night. The king
deeply shows his love to her and intends to make her become Queen by marry him.
Jane feels guilty for betraying the queen, but she thinks it is late to turn
back. In order to marry Jane, Henry has to get divorce with Anne. Therefore,
the king arranges a trap for the queen. The trap includes meeting Anne’s former
lover, Richard Percy. Henry sends a person to spy on them.
There is another person who is
secretly in love with the queen named Smeaton. He wants to see queen and
returns small portrait that he steals. During that time, Anne is arguing with
Rochefort, her brother. Rochefort warns the queen about the king’s trap. He
wants Anne to persuade Percy away from England. Percy comes into the scene and
expresses that his love is remain. Anne still doesn’t except his love. Percy
becomes frustrated and pulls out his sword. Smeaton runs in to the scene to
protect the queen. Suddenly, Henry comes in with his men. He accused them for committing
adultery conspiracy because of the little portrait from Smeaton. While
imprisoned, Anne finds out Jane is the king’s lover. The council gives a final
decision to execute all four of them. Anne faces her execution, while Henry
announces his new queen.
This piece is important in the
chronology of Opera because it shows a valuable part of England history. Anna Bolena gives the audience a brief
understanding about King Henry VIII. Furthermore, this opera paints a picture
of lover and betrayal in 1830. It teaches people a life lesson about love and
trust. This opera also releases during the romantic age at its peak, which is
from 1800 to 1850. Anna Bolena shows
the involvement of opera in the art industry in the 19th century.
In video that I watched, there are a
few technologies are being used for the performance. Brightness of lighting is
one of the technology that being utilized during the opera. While switching
between scenes, brightness of light will decrease and only focus on the main
characters. Therefore, the background will be dark. This will allow worker
behind the scene to make change in the background for the following scene
without any notice from the audiences. In order to make major change in the
background, they also use remote controlled curtain to close the scene. In the
final scene, when Anne is being executed, the brick door is closed and remotely
controlled by “behind the scene” crew.
If I were a 21st century
director, I have an idea that can turn this piece into a video game. My main
character in the game would be Percy, Anne’s former lover. The story of the
game will start with somehow Percy escaped from the prison. The main mission is
rescue the queen, Anne, before her execution time. Player will control Percy.
He must go through different layer defense of king Henry’s castle, which can
also call as different level. Each level will be harder as layer defense is
getting thicker. If the player manages to win the last level, Percy will be
able to rescue Anne and be her hero.
In conclusion, Anna Bolena is a well-constructed piece of music. The content of
the opera is not only about the history of England. But it also teaches us a
great lesson about love. Gaetano Donizetti did a wonderful job on interpreting
it in his opera. Which we can all value and enjoy until today.
Work
Cited
Hussey,
Dyneley. Gaetano Donizetti. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. May 06, 2015. Web.
February
12, 2018.
Moura,
Gabe. Mise-en-scène. Elements of Cinema. July 01, 2014. Web. February 12, 2018.
N.A.
Anna Bolena. The Metropolitan Opera. 2017. Web. February 12, 2018.
http://www.metopera.org/Discover/Synopses/Anna-Bolena/
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