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Through the collaborative efforts of a composer, a dramatist, a stage director, and a musical director comes a form of art known as the opera. Opera is the integration of music as well as drama into a single theatrical performance. The first know performance of opera dates back over 400 years. Over time, it has expanded to include four significantly different forms. This paper examines different types of opera and details the history of opera as well.
The grand opera is an opera that is serious in nature known for its large cast and its orchestra. The grand opera originated in Paris in the 19th century. The grand opera is known for its inclusion of ballet at the beginning of the second act. It is usually performed in five acts and is also known as opera seria. The first person known to have commenced the grand opera was Gaspare Spontini.
Another style of opera is the opera comique; this form of opera includes spoken dialogue. Although this form of opera contains the word “comique”, these operas may not necessarily consist of comedy. Often times these operas address subjects that are serious in nature. The opera comique structure first appeared in Telemaque by AR Lasage. It has become a popular form of opera that still excites opera fans of today.
The opera buffa is a comical form of opera. It is known for its transformation of serious subject matters into satirical works. Originally opera buffas were performed as short one act interludes in between opera serias. These interludes led to full fledged opera buffa compositions. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro can be considered an opera buffa. This Opera was originally banned in Vienna because of its satirical depiction of aristocracy during its time. It has gone on to become one of the twenty most performed operas in North America.
A light form of opera characterized by its light styles and popular themes is known as the operetta. The operetta was used in contrast to...