從古代到普契尼的歌劇及劇作家

Opera and Composers from Ancient Time to Puccini

歌劇是一種融合戲劇、舞蹈、音樂、文學、服裝、舞台佈景等，多樣藝術的綜合體。欣賞歌劇可說是藝術欣賞的最高境界。但是一般人甚少接觸歌劇，大部分是由於語言的部分深奧難懂，多數人聞之卻步。本研究從歌劇的歷史談起，發源與早期的發展情況。歷史上的第一齣歌劇「達芬尼」《Dafne》按阿波羅神與巨蛇相鬥的神話故事編撰而成，並於1597 年首演。這齣歌劇的誕生的確是歌劇史上一大盛事，不過，在這之前，如同這種音樂與戲劇結合在一起的表現方式，早在古希臘的悲劇中即已出現。由於《Dafne》與Peri 稍後的作品「幽麗笛絲」《Euridice》均獲得觀眾的認可，義大利的作曲家們便紛紛朝歌劇創作的方向發展；在各方面的影響之下，十七世紀的歌劇除了義大利的作曲家之外，德國和奧國，一時之間顯得熱鬧非凡。於不同的文化背景，也產生一些帶有本土風格的歌劇作品；而義大利作曲家們的活躍，則使得義大利式的歌劇很快地傳遍歐洲各地。經過一個世紀的發後，雖然這個時代出現了無數的交響曲和四重奏，但是古典派時代的戲劇和歌劇還是成為大眾藝術的焦點。此時的歌劇，無論是在內容上、形式上、音樂上、戲劇結構上，均有相當出色的表現。十九世紀這個時期的歌劇主要是以法國歌劇、德國歌劇以及義大利的歌劇為主，發展出另一個嶄新的風貌。德國以浪漫派歌劇和華格納的樂劇 Musikdrama 為代表；而義大利歌劇中的嚴肅歌劇及喜歌劇則各自擁有不同的支持者，此時的重要作曲家有：羅西尼、董尼才第，貝里尼以及威爾第。雖然二十世紀的音樂發展之重點不是歌劇，但仍佔有重要的地位。此時的音樂變化很豐富，各國均有其代表作品，雖然統一性的美感被打破了，但多采多姿、風格各異的表現，卻自有其光芒。大部分的人士都會將歌劇當作一種音樂藝術，這樣的想法雖然不能說是錯誤，但卻真的是將歌劇藝術過度窄化。就如同世界上大部份的戲劇一樣，歌劇在劇場中以及文學上其實也有一定的地位。這也間接顯示歌劇的劇本在文學領域上，其實也有其藝術地位。儘管一部歌劇只要譜曲成功，通常就留下一定的歷史地位，而且光是這個部份，就已經足夠讓人沈醉不已。但想到一道美味佳餚，只能享受其二分之一，多少還是會讓人有些遺憾。我們現在已經習於把歌劇當作一種音樂的形式，但早期階段，歌劇主要仍被當作文學的形式看待，音樂幾乎只是附加的性質。我們若回顧最早期的歌劇，便不難瞭解歌劇中的文字一直高於一切，作曲家最重要的任務是以明晰、正確的朗讀和音樂的表現，傳達詩中包含的理念。強調辭句的根源可以追溯到文藝復興時期，當時的人對古代世界重新又產生探討的興趣。古代的音樂雖然只有少許的片段留存，但人們認為當時的音樂具有神奇的力量，能夠透過文字與音樂結合打動人心。劇本的價值，隨著歌劇史上各個時代對於戲劇和音樂之間重要性的不同看法，而有所差異。本文主要從古代到普契尼止的歌劇劇本及劇作家作一歸納。

Opera is the blend of the art which combine the drama, dance, music, literature, dress and the stage-setting. Opera-Appreciating is the best state of Art-Appreciating but there is little people to contact and enjoy the opera. The most of reason is owing to the hard language. This research illustrates the history of the opera, origination and the early stage of development. The opera is the best representative of the style and character of composers. In the history, the first opera ”Dafne” is designed on the fairy tale-“The fight of the God-Apollo and Giant Snake” and the first play is on 1597. The birth of opera is really the great issue but like this kind of way combined the music and drama has already come out in the Greece’s tragedy. Because the “Dafne” and “Euridice” have been approved from the audience, the Italian composers always develop the opera-composing. Owning to the influence from very place, beside the part of Italian composers, in the Germany and Austria, the opera in the 17th century is so populous. Under the different culture, the opera with local style has been produced and the Italian composers are so active that the on Italian opera has been spread in every Europe country. After the development for one century, although there are many pieces of work of symphony and quartet, the classical drama and opera is still the focus in the popularart area. At this time, the opera is outstanding on the content, style, music and the structure of the drama. In 19th century, the opera has evolved the new style from the base of the French and Germany opera. In Germany, the romantic opera and Musikdrama is the representative and in Italy, the solemn and joyful opera have the different supporters. At this period, Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini and Verdi are the important composers. Although the opera is not the emphasis in 20th century, it is still in the major place. The current music has great change. There are the own representative works in the every country. Even though the perception of the unifying has been broken, the varied character and strange expression are always brilliant.