The Nurse in History and Opera: From Servant to Sister
Seiten
2024
Lexington Books/Fortress Academic (Verlag)
978-1-6669-5734-1 (ISBN)
Lexington Books/Fortress Academic (Verlag)
978-1-6669-5734-1 (ISBN)
This book explores the role of the ubiquitous nurse character found in over one hundred operas and provides insight into opera nurses’ unique musical and dramatic journey from servant to sister, and women’s perceived place and status on the opera stage and in society.
From Scarabea, Artusa’s old nurse in Francesco Mannelli’s La Maga Fuminata (1638 Venice) through the Canadian nursing sisters in Stephanie Martin’s Llandovery Castle (2018 Toronto), over one hundred nurse characters appear in opera roles ranging from silent cast extra to principal singer. The Nurse in History and Opera: From Servant to Sister explores that role over the span of opera’s existence.
Judith Barger examines the nurse character in opera within the sociohistorical context of her real-life counterparts off stage; the progression of the nurse from servant to sister, both inside and outside the opera house, is a commentary on how society has viewed its women. The book then discusses textual and musical interactions between opera’s nurses and other characters with attention to what the nurse’s role contributes to opera in six categories identified as common to opera’s nurses – Comic, Former, Knowledgeable, Motherly, Scheming, and Specialized.
When viewed through the lens of social history, opera’s nurse characters merit attention for the glimpse that they offer of a unique musical and dramatic journey from servant to sister, and for the commentary that they offer on women’s perceived place and status not only on the opera stage, but in society as well.
From Scarabea, Artusa’s old nurse in Francesco Mannelli’s La Maga Fuminata (1638 Venice) through the Canadian nursing sisters in Stephanie Martin’s Llandovery Castle (2018 Toronto), over one hundred nurse characters appear in opera roles ranging from silent cast extra to principal singer. The Nurse in History and Opera: From Servant to Sister explores that role over the span of opera’s existence.
Judith Barger examines the nurse character in opera within the sociohistorical context of her real-life counterparts off stage; the progression of the nurse from servant to sister, both inside and outside the opera house, is a commentary on how society has viewed its women. The book then discusses textual and musical interactions between opera’s nurses and other characters with attention to what the nurse’s role contributes to opera in six categories identified as common to opera’s nurses – Comic, Former, Knowledgeable, Motherly, Scheming, and Specialized.
When viewed through the lens of social history, opera’s nurse characters merit attention for the glimpse that they offer of a unique musical and dramatic journey from servant to sister, and for the commentary that they offer on women’s perceived place and status not only on the opera stage, but in society as well.
Judith Barger is independent scholar who holds a PhD in musicology from Indiana University and a PhD in nursing from The University of Texas at Austin.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Nurses off Stage: From Sacred to Secular
Chapter 3: Nurses off Stage: From Civilian to Military
Chapter 4: Nurses on and off Stage: Image Making and Breaking
Chapter 5: Comic Nurses
Chapter 6: Former Nurses
Chapter 7: Knowledgeable Nurses
Chapter 8: Motherly Nurses
Chapter 9: Scheming Nurses
Chapter 10: Specialized Nurses
Chapter 11: Conclusion
Appendix
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
| Erscheinungsdatum | 06.04.2024 |
|---|---|
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 163 x 237 mm |
| Gewicht | 594 g |
| Themenwelt | Kunst / Musik / Theater ► Musik ► Klassik / Oper / Musical |
| Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte | |
| ISBN-10 | 1-6669-5734-8 / 1666957348 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-6669-5734-1 / 9781666957341 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
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