Aria
gale
views updated May 29 2018Aria ★★ 1988 (R)
Ten directors were given carte blanche to interpret ten arias from well-known operas. Henry and D'Angelo star in Julian Temple's rendition of Verdi's “Rigoletto.” In Fonda's film debut, she and her lover travel to Las Vegas and eventually kill themselves in the bathtub, just like “Romeo & Juliet.” Jarman's piece (a highlight) shows an aged operatic star at her last performance remembering an early love affair. “I Pagliacci” is the one aria in which the director took his interpretation in a straightforward manner. 90m/C VHS, DVD . GB Theresa Russell, Anita Morris, Bridget Fonda, Beverly D'Angelo, Buck Henry, John Hurt; D: Ken Russell, Charles Sturridge, Robert Altman, Bill Bryden, Jean-Luc Godard, Bruce Beresford, Nicolas Roeg, Franc Roddam, Derek Jarman, Julien Temple; W: Ken Russell, Charles Sturridge, Robert Altman, Bill Bryden, Jean-Luc Godard, Bruce Beresford, Nicolas Roeg, Franc Roddam, Derek Jarman, Julien Temple; C: Caroline Champetier, Oliver Stapleton, Gale Tattersall.
VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever
aria
oxford
views updated May 18 2018aria (It.). Air. From the time of A. Scarlatti in the 18th cent. onwards this has had the definite implication of a more or less lengthy and well- developed solo vocal piece in ABA form normally called a
da capo aria. The singer was expected to add ornaments in the repeated A section. The 19th-cent. operatic aria became more elaborate and complex. Arias used to be rather minutely classified as (a)
aria cantabile, slow and smooth; (b)
aria di portamento, in long notes and dignified, to be sung in
legato style; (c)
aria di mezzo carattere, more passionate and with often elaborate orch. acc.; (d)
aria parlante, declamatory; (e)
aria di bravura (or
d'agilità, or
d'abilità), requiring great v.-control; (f)
aria all'unisono, with acc. in unison or octaves with the vocal part; (g)
aria d'imitazione, imitative of bird-song, hunting hns., etc.; (h)
aria concertata with elaborate acc.; and so on.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE
aria
oxford
views updated May 23 2018a·ri·a / ˈärēə/ •
n. Mus. a long, accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
aria
oxford
views updated May 11 2018aria Solo song with instrumental accompaniment, or a lyrical instrumental piece. An important element of operas, cantatas and oratorios, the aria form originated in the 17th century.
World Encyclopedia
aria
oxford
views updated Jun 11 2018aria XVIII. — It. See
AIR.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD