36. Conductor, leader

Conductor corresponds to дирижер. He rehearses the works to be performed with the orchestra and conducts at concerts. Conductor may be qualified as follows:

resident conductor – the conductor who regularly rehearses and conducts a certain orchestra

guest/visiting conductor – a conductor who conducts at only one or a few concerts with an orchestra, and who may be the resident conductor of another orchestra

assistant conductor – a conductor who assists the main, resident conductor

The leader of the orchestra is the first violin, who is the most important member of the orchestra and assists the conductor at rehearsals. It corresponds to первая скрипка. First violin is also used.

37. Tune, Melody, Theme, Subject

Tune and melody are synonymous, but tune is more widely used than melody. A

tune may be simple or complex, fast or slow, ordinary or strikingly beautiful. Melody tends to imply a beautiful tune, especially a slow and moving one. Tune is stylistically neutral, whereas melody is literary, and little used in everyday conversation.

Tune is used in contrast to words with reference to songs.

e.g. It’s a lovely tune, but I’m not very keen on the words.

It also occurs in the expressions: in tune/out if tune

e.g. It’s difficult to sing in tune in a stuffy room.

He played out of tune.

You’re out of tune.

Tune is used as a verb, sometimes with up, in the sense of настраивать (инструмент).

e.g. The piano needs tuning.

The orchestra were tuning their instruments. / The orchestra were tuning up.

Theme is used to denote a short tune which is developed and repeated in a sonata, symphony, etc., or which serves as the basis for a set of variations.

e.g. The theme of the first movement is very lively.

Reger. Variations on a Theme of Mozart. (name of a work)

Subject is occasionally used instead of theme with reference to sonatas, symphonies, etc.

38. Types of Opera grand opera – (an) opera with a serious story in which all the words are sung

comic opera – (an) opera with an amusing story, speaking as well as singing and usually a happy ending. In England it was called ballad opera; in France, opera comique; in Germany, Singspiel; and in Italy, opera buffa.

operetta – a musical entertainment that is like opera but shorter and with a less serious story

39. Opera Singers

In an operatic production there are soloists and chorus. Note that chorus, and not choir is used in opera.

A singer is one of the following:

a soprano	a tenor
a mezzo-soprano	a baritone
a contralto	a bass

The above words may also be used adjectivally.

e.g. the soprano soloist, a tenor solo

A soloist’s part consists of arias and recitative. The words which soloists and chorus sing are called the libretto, which is written by a librettist. Overture which opens any opera is an instrumental introduction to an opera and therefore is not sung.

Sing is used in the following expressions:

to sing the part/role of…

e.g. … sang the part/role of Violetta. or: The part/role of Violetta was sung by…

The part of may be omitted in such sentences.

to sing an opera in the original

This expression is generally used in the passive.

e.g. At Glyndebourne all operas are sung in the original.

“Eugene Onegin” was sung in the original Russian.

Singing is used with reference to the singers’ performance in such sentences as:

e.g. I enjoyed the singing.

The singing was wonderful.