Gian-Carlo Menotti（1911-2007）an Italian-American, was one of the America’s most distinguished contemporary opera composers as well as a playwright. Menotti’s gift in composition was unfolded very early as he began to compose art songs at the age of seven, and wrote the words and music of his first opera four years later at eleven.

Menotti composed a total of twenty-seven highly praised operas in his lifetime. He wrote all the music and the scripts by himself, which makes him stand high in the history of the Opera. Living in the blooming era of American 20th century music, Menotti used a comprehensive way to express art of music and pushed it to another peak.

On the other hand, Menotti had written not only operas but also art songs. Though those art songs may not be as popular as his operas, they still had great position in composition history. From his works, we can find not only plenty of creative ways and thoughts, but also the preservation of Italian traditional style. Such complement in his work becomes an very unique style.

There are six chapters in this study. The first chapter is the introduction, which presents the motive and goal of this study and its research scope and approach. The second chapter discusses the new era American music in the end of nineteenth to twentieth century. The third chapter focuses on the life and musical style of Menotti. The fourth chapter includes analysis and interpretation from two arias of the Medium, which are The Black Swan and Monica's Waltz. The fifth chapter includes analysis and interpretation of three songs from Canti della lontananza , which are Gli Amanti Impossibile, Mattinata di Neve and Il Settimo Bicchiere di Vino. The sixth chapter is the conclusion of this study, which would assist the performers to immerse themselves in the original motivation and the composition style of Menotti.