In Greek mythology Orpheus was a gifted singer and player of the lyre (a hand-held harplike instrument). He was said to be so great a singer even the gods were affected, and he entered Hades to rescue his lover, Euridice, entrancing the spirits with his music. Composers loved the story for its drama and romance, but also because they could pour all their art into the magical singing of Orpheus.
Opera buffa, a form of comic opera that originated in Italy, features prominent composers such as Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, whose work "La serva padrona" is a classic example. Other notable composers include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, particularly for his operas "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Don Giovanni," as well as Gioachino Rossini, known for "The Barber of Seville." These composers significantly contributed to the development and popularity of the genre in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The Can-Can is from Jacques Offenbach's operetta, Orpheus in the Underworld (Orphée aux enfers).
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.
The style of music that was rebeled against opera was in this website.
Italian serious or tragic opera is called "opera seria." This genre emerged in the early 18th century and is characterized by its focus on noble characters and serious themes, often drawn from history and mythology. Unlike its lighter counterpart, "opera buffa," opera seria typically features grand, dramatic music and complex arias. Prominent composers of opera seria include Handel, Vivaldi, and Mozart.
Bel canto is a style or method of opera singing, not an opera per se. It was originated in the early 19th century and was used by such composers as Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti.
NET Opera Theater - 1967 Orpheus Then and Now was released on: USA: 31 January 1971
Opera buffa, a form of comic opera that originated in Italy, features prominent composers such as Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, whose work "La serva padrona" is a classic example. Other notable composers include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, particularly for his operas "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Don Giovanni," as well as Gioachino Rossini, known for "The Barber of Seville." These composers significantly contributed to the development and popularity of the genre in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
Britten
Orpheus and Eurydice
The Can-Can is from Jacques Offenbach's operetta, Orpheus in the Underworld (Orphée aux enfers).
The style of music that was rebeled against opera was in this website.
Italian composers write operas to Italian texts, just as German composers write them to German texts, and so on. Opera was invented in Italy, so many of its composers were Italian. There are operas in almost every language.
Opera Buffa, a form of comic opera that originated in Italy, was notably advanced by composers such as Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, whose work "La serva padrona" is a seminal example. Other significant composers include Domenico Cimarosa, known for "Il matrimonio segreto," and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who contributed to the genre with operas like "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Don Giovanni." These composers helped shape the lighthearted tone and engaging characters characteristic of Opera Buffa.
Mozart Verdi Wagner Puccini Mascagni Leoncavallo
Mozart is considered to be one of the best Opera composers of all time.
The earliest opera performed by Jacopo Peri is "Dafne," which premiered in 1598. It is considered one of the first examples of opera as a genre, blending music, drama, and poetry. While only fragments of the score survive today, "Dafne" played a crucial role in the development of early Baroque opera. Peri's work laid the groundwork for future composers in the opera tradition.