The History Of Italian Opera

The History of Italian Opera

Introduction

There are many forms of art such as, paintings, sculptures, buildings, etc. Opera is another form of art though it may not seem like art to many people. “Few forms of art… are as overtly involved as opera in the social and historical contexts within which they are created and consumed” (Lindenberger 235). Italian opera which obviously formed in Italy is a form of art in the Italian language. It was introduced in Italy in the 1600s. Ironically many composers of Italian opera were from other areas of the world rather than Italy. However, there are many famous composers who were born and raised in Italy. These operas written by these composers are some of the most famous throughout the world. The magnificent feature of opera is the fact that it tells a story. “It may be described as sung drama, in which the theatrical force is carried by the music as well as the text” (Headington, Westbrook, Barfoot 11). The history of Italian opera shows the change in styles over the course of time and throughout society.

Origins of Italian Opera

This form of art through music was not something new that was taking place. In fact, this presentation dates all the way back to the ancient Greeks. Many composers tried to create works of art during the Renaissance. This ancient idea of the Greeks and their world was an inspiration and starting point for many of these artists and composers. For the Italians, this music was used to develop the text and was just another part of the performance. “…the Renaissance intellectuals who met in Florence and elsewhere after about 1750 seem to have been firm in their belief that classical plays were sung throughout, and so they placed the emphasis on vocal and musical aspects above all. From this error arose their fundamental concept of opera, which has, broadly speaking, remained our own” (Headington, Westbrook, Barfoot 12).

The 17th Century

The Renaissance brought about an abundance of creations and a mass use of one’s imagination. This establishment of creativity brought about by the Renaissance displayed itself in the city of Florence. “What was new in the works that emerged in Florence was the recognition that story and music were one artistic whole, and that the drama existed not only in the text and stage actions but also in the music” (Headington, Westbrook, Barfoot 20). The people of Florence considered this musical phenomenon to be one of their greatest attributes therefore making them very proud. All of the new ideas and ways of creating drama made this musical expansion possible. There was a sense of a form in music now that allowed for a basic structure. Instruments were capable of producing much more than ever capable of before. This allowed for a vast majority of different tones, textures, styles, and so on. Also, the fact that a persons voice could do so much more seemed to be one of the reasons why this presentation of drama in the form of opera was able to take off so successfully. People were educated and taught to use their voices and talents in ways they never thought possible. These talents stunned many composers and added to the excitement of the developing idea of Italian opera.

Claudio Monteverdi was the first and most prominent composer of Italian opera. He was born in Northern Italy and began studying music at an early age. He was world renown for his works that brought about the transition from the Renaissance to Baroque music. He is regarded as one of the key components in the changes that were taking place in music. Monteverdi wrote: “Contrasts are what move our souls, and this is what all good music aims at” (Headington, Westbrook, Barfoot 21). A strong tie between words and music was one of ideas that Monteverdi had pushed for. One of his popular operas was Orfeo which was performed better than any of those performed before it. There were more instruments, choruses, costumes, settings, scenery, etc. It seemed that everything was more extravagant than every before.

It was not long before opera was unfolded throughout all of Italy. In Rome there were many6 composers who were beginning to work throughout this time. Opera in Rome was known for its choruses that were very large and the presentation of the stage. When opera eventually made it to Venice, it was changing. In Venice the first opera house was opened. This sparked a huge change that led opera into the business world. After the establishment of the first opera house, many more were beginning to sprout up all around Italy and those throughout society were now paying to see these performances. By this time, Monteverdi had moved to Venice to compose operas.

In time, opera was beginning to travel outside the comfort zone of Italy and into other areas of the world. Opera spread to England, France, Germany, and so on. Many composers were called to these other areas of the world to perform rather than going their on their own intuitions.

The 18th Century

When the 17th century came to end it seemed as if there was more grandiose form of opera that needed to come into perspective. These ideas would eventually lead to a form of serious opera known as opera seria. Pietro Metastasio was the most successful librettist of this time. As defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary a libretto is, “the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, musical, and ballet.” These librettos written by Metastasio captivated audiences and many knew them by heart just like our society today can sing along to the lyrics of a song by their favorite artist. Metastasio was born in Rome and was Italian poet and writer. This is how he got involved in the drama and music of the 18th century.

With this idea of serious opera came another idea, comic opera. Comic opera was known as opera buffa. This idea of comic opera took place in the later half of the 18th century. Carlo Goldoni, who wrote play and Baldassare Galuppi, who was a composer were two of the names that came together to make comic opera successful. Comic opera gained much more recognition than it ever had before with the help of Galuppi. “Operas were now divided into two or three acts, creating libretti for works of a substantially greater length, which differed significantly from those of the early 18th century in the complexity of their plots and the psychology of their characters” (Wikipedia).