When the church banned opera performance during the season of Lent the what did they do?

Answer 1

well, as the Canal builders would say, one door closes, another opens. if Opera was taboo in Lent- certainly Oratorio was in full swing- are you familiar with the somewhat morbid Stabat mater?- standing mother, approximately- on a level closer to what people would call popular drama- we have the Passion Plays- such as Veronica"s Veil. This was traditionally presented in Union City at the Park theatre ( do not confuse with the better-known Hudson- which was a Burlesque house! The Park is still extant. concerts have been given there ( the revived Dorsey band). so drama did not shut down in the (slack) season but did refocus on religious sites. come to think of it I often wondered if the Ronettes ever played the Park Theater- which would pose a pun- perhaps Veronica Un-veiled! ( Veronica Bennett was the lead singer of the Ronettes!)

Answer 2

Yes, leading to the birth and popularity of the oratorio--a concert in the form of an opera but with a religious theme, written in teh style of opera.