History of Opera Music

Artistic expression unfolds

In the early 16th century, wealthy Italians were invited to royal courts in Florence, where Greek dramas were performed. Intermissions consisted of singing and dancing. History indicated that music accompanied early Greek dramas, so Italians incorporated bits of music. Music became more complex; by the close of the 16th century, singers and dancers performed throughout the production.

The love of opera music soon spread through Germany, England, France, Spain, Portugal, and Russia. The first opera theatre was built in Venice in 1637; six more opera theatres immediately followed. Composers from Germany and Austria wrote in Italian, but eventually their operas were written in their native languages.

Mastering the art

The early 17th century brought Monteverdi's musical fables, made up of recitations, songs, and instrumentals. The Italian composer added arias, allowing singers to express deep emotions. Eventually chorus parts and interludes were added to opera.

Opera took a turn toward the artificial and unreal, then headed into a revolution. When Gluck's work took the stage in 1762, his words and music worked together with precision to tell a story. In the late 1700s, Mozart introduced operas with immense drama and emotion, sometimes combining comedy and passion at the expense of the aristocrats.

The passion grows

About this time, the first opera glasses were developed, providing a better view of the stage and of who was in attendance. In the early 1800s, the prestigious flaunted theatre glasses that bridged together two spyglass barrels, each with individual adjustments.

By the late 19th century, artists like Verdi, Puccini, Verdi, and Wagner wrote lengthy storylines demanding of strong voices and large orchestras and choruses. Audiences filled theatres, anxious to focus in on elaborate costumes and scenery as much as they were to hear the music.

Immigrants from Europe hooked Americans on opera during the 18th and 19th centuries. New York's Metropolitan Opera House opened in 1883, where today audiences still enjoy works from that era.