Who established the form of opera seria?

Answer 1

Opera seria, a serious style of Italian opera, was established in the early 18th century, largely attributed to composers like Alessandro Scarlatti and later popularized by composers such as George Frideric Handel and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. It is characterized by its focus on noble themes, structured arias, and a reliance on formal conventions. The genre became predominant in European opera houses during the Baroque period, shaping the evolution of opera in the subsequent classical era.