The Twin Styles in 19th Century: Stereotyping Rossini and Beethoven

Abstract

In the 19th century, Dahlhaus’s "twin styles" compared Rossini and Beethoven as representatives of Italy and Germany. He believes that the Italian opera represented by Rossini is superficial, while the German opera represented by Beethoven is profound. Over time, this contrasting relationship gave rise to stereotypes and gradually evolved into a broader contrast between the cultures and arts of Italy and Germany. This article aims to address this issue by examining Rossini's representative opera "L'italiana in Algeri," focusing on the aria "Languir per una bella," and analyzing the recitative "Gott! Welch Dunkel hier!" and "In des Lebens Frühlingstagen" from Beethoven's opera "Fidelio." The analysis will explore three aspects of vocal performance, examining the differences in opera composition between Rossini and Beethoven from the perspective of the singer. Furthermore, it will discuss the contrasting perceptions of Rossini and Beethoven as reflected in the "twin styles" stereotype. Employing dialectical thinking, the article will compare the works of Rossini and Beethoven and offer unique insights form a vocalist.