Review Meeting: Baroque Opera and Greek Classics

(Edited by Sayano Osaki & Yoshiko Mori / Written by Masahiro Tsuji, Fumie Okouchi, Yoriko Morimoto, and Hidekazu Yoshie, Ronsōsha, 2024)

Abstracts

Baroque Opera and Greek Classics (Ronsōsha Publishing) is a collection of five articles based on research presentations from a 2021 symposium, along with one newly written article. Iphigenia, the protagonist of two tragedies by the ancient Greek tragic poet Euripides, was adapted in various ways and became the subject of numerous operas following the success of Racine’s tragedy. In this book, researchers analyze operas featuring Iphigenia or Greek classical themes that were performed in Italy, France, Germany, Russia, and England. They examine these works from perspectives including libretto analysis, musical aspects, and performance practices, while considering the characteristics of the period and the regional contexts of the performance venues.
The following are the abstracts of each paper:
Sayano Osaki
“18th Century Opera Libretti on the Theme of Iphigenia: Examples from Rome, Vienna, Venice, London, and Paris”
This paper analyzes various opera libretti written across Europe featuring Iphigenia, a character from Greek tragedy, discussing the distinct characteristics of each version.
Masahiro Tsuji
“Achille in Sciro as an Epithalamium Opera”
Clarifying the origins of the opera Achille in Sciro based on a libretto by Metastasio, and the major differences between versions, a new category of “epithalamium opera” was proposed.
Fumie Okouchi
“Operas Based on Greek Tragedies in 18th-century Berlin: Two ‘Iphigenia’ by C.H. Graun”
This study compares Graun’s Iphigenia, performed in Braunschweig in 1728 and in Berlin in 1748, and discusses its significance in music history.
Yoriko Morimoto
“The Reality of Opera Seria Performances at the Russian Court in the 18th Century: Focusing on Works Based on Greek Tragedies”
This paper examines operas on Greek tragic themes composed by Raupach, Galuppi, and Traetta, revealing aspects of opera performance in Russia at the dawn of its operatic culture.
Hidekazu Yoshie
“Handel’s Pasticcio Opera ‘Oreste’ based on Greek Tragedy: His Intention for Its Performance”
“Oreste” (premiered in 1734 at Covent Garden, London) has generally been rated low due to its limited number of performances and its status as a pasticcio opera. This paper explores the possibility that Handel staged the work to demonstrate that his singers could rival those of his competitor, “the Opera of the Nobility.”
Yoshiko Mori
“Iphigenie en Aulide and Iphigenie en Tauride by Gluck: The Birth of a New Tragédie Lyrique”
This paper clarifies the differences in approach between Gluck’s two operas, which were first performed at the Paris Opera, in order to “not distract the theatrical interest of the audience.”

Event Outline

Time and Date: May 10th (Sat.) 2025, 16:30 – 18:00 (JST)

•   Format: Online meeting (Zoom)
•   Presenter: Sayano OSAKI (Tokyo University of the Arts), Masahiro TSUJI (Meiji    University), Fumie OKOUCHI (The Music High School Attached to the Faculty of Music,    Tokyo University of the Arts), Yoriko MORIMOTO (Nagoya College of Music), Hidekazu YOSHIE (Kyorin University), Yoshiko MORI (Waseda University)
• Moderator: Tatsuko MORI
• Language: Japanese
• Organaized by: Waseda Institute for Research in Opera and Music Theatre (WIROM), Comprehensive Research Organization, Waseda University

Registration

Registration is required by May 9th (Fri.). Please register through the following URL:
https://list-waseda-jp.zoom.us/meeting/register/tQ1E275vRL6VpLGR0s6jyg

*Please show your full name on the display, mute yourself, and turn off the video, except when talking; refrain from taking screenshots, recordings, etc., and follow the moderator’s instructions.

Contact

Waseda Institute for Research in Opera and Music Theatre (WIROM), Comprehensive Research Organization, Waseda University: https://prj-opera-mt.w.waseda.jp/

e-mail address: operaken-uketsuke[at]list.waseda.jp　([at] = @)
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Profile of Presenter

Sayano Osaki
Part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts. Researcher in Italian literature and theater. Ph.D. (Literature, University of Tokyo). Author of “Theater Reform in Enlightenment Italy” (Tokyo University of the Arts Press), winner of the AICT Theater Criticism Award and the Kawatake Encouragement Prize.
Masahiro Tsuji
Professor at Meiji University. Research Fields:  Libretti, Italian poetry, and English poetry. His research explores the interpretation of arias as poetry and how they merge with music to create synergistic effects. In recent years, he has also been studying court culture.
Fumie Okouchi
Part-time lecturer at The Music High School attached to the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts. Ph.D. (musicology). Her current research focuses on opera in Germany from the 18th to early 19th century. She is a co-author of Baroque Opera and Greek Classics (Ronsosha, 2024).
Yoriko Morimoto
Lecturer at Nagoya College of Music, Kinjo Gakuin University, and Aichi University of the Arts. Her research field is the History of Western and Russian Music. She has published several books, including The Sheremetev Serf Theater: History of Opera Culture in Russia in the 18th Century (Douwa Shoin, 2024).
Hidekazu Yoshie
Part-time lecturer at Kyorin University and other institutions. His main research area is the reception of music in 18th-century London. He has mainly studied the concert activities of “ancient music” organizations, such as the Academy of Ancient Music. His recent research interest is uncovering the background of performances of Italian opera works.
Yoshiko Mori
Lecturer at Waseda University and other universities. Her specialty is musicology. Her research focuses on opera in France from the 17th to 19th centuries. She is particularly interested in the 18th-century French opera debate, opera-comique, and 19th-century grand opera.