English Vocabulary

English Vocabulary Performing Arts Edition! Week Four

Curator Noun-a person in charge of the artwork in a museum

Curator In the beginning of The DaVinci Code, the Curatorof France’s Louvre museum is killed.

Armature Noun-a skeleton construction upon which a sculptor builds a sculpture

Armature It is hard to believe that underneath the massive statue is an armature

Tableau Noun-a stage picture created by actors posing motionless.

Tableau At the end of the first act, the performers froze in position, creating a dramatic tableau.

Forte Adjective- Strong, loud

Forte A piano can be played mezzo forte or forte depending on the desired effect.

Harlequin Noun-masked, comic character.

Harlequin The harlequinsomersaulted across the stage before delivering the punch-line to his joke.

Scrim Noun-a curtain that may be transparent or opaque, depending on how it is lit.

Scrim Depending on how the scrim was lit, actors could be hidden without moving.

Contrapposto Noun-a pose in which the parts of the body are twisted or distorted into opposite directions.

Contrapposto Michelangelo’s David is a good example of contrappostoin art.

Hamartia Noun-a flaw in a tragic character.

Hamartia Hamlet’s hamartiais his inability to act against those who killed his father before it is too late.

Impresario Noun-manger, promoter, or sponsor of performing arts.

Impresario The impresariodonated often to theatrical foundations and attended many productions.

Requim • Noun-composition written for a funeral mass.