A Brief Introduction to Opera
For many people, the word "opera" conjures up images of wealthy patrons dressed to the nines sitting in red velvet seats, sipping champagne and listening to overweight singers belt out high notes. While this may be one (albeit outdated) image of opera, it's certainly not the only one. In reality, opera is a vibrant and ever-evolving art form that has something for everyone.
If you've never been to an opera, or if you're not quite sure what to expect, this blog post is for you. Here, we'll give you a brief introduction to opera—what it is, where it came from, and why it's still relevant today. By the end, we hope you'll have a newfound appreciation for this complex and beautiful art form.
What Is Opera?
In the most simplest of terms, opera is a drama set to music. It is usually performed in a theatre with Orchestra seating in front of the stage with singers and actors performing on stage with either live or recorded music. An Opera consists of dialogue and singing and sometimes dancing too. The libretto (script) is usually based on historical events and/or literary works such as plays or novels.
Opera first originated in Italy around the 16th century but soon spread all over Europe. In fact, some of the most famous operas were written by German composer Richard Wagner including The Ring Cycle operas ( Der Ring des Nibelungen). The first public Opera house was built in Venice in 1637 called La Fenice which is still standing today and continues to host Opera performances regularly.
Why Is Opera Still Relevant Today?
Opera might seem like a stuffy old art form that's only popular among those who are wealthy and cultured. But nothing could be further from the truth—opera is very much alive and well in the 21st century. In fact, according to data from 2018, nearly 36 million people worldwide attended at least one opera performance during that year. And that number doesn't include all the people who watched opera performances online or listened to them on the radio!
Opera has managed to remain relevant for centuries because it continues to evolve. New operas are being written all the time, tackled issues that are relevant to modern audiences. For example, John Adams's 1987 opera "Nixon in China" tells the story of President Richard Nixon's trip to China—an event that was immensely important in shaping today's world politics. Similarly, Jake Heggie's 2000 opera "Dead Man Walking" explores capital punishment—an issue that is still hotly debated today.
Conclusion
We hope this brief introduction to opera has piqued your interest! If you've never been to an opera before, we encourage you to check out one of the many performances happening in cities all around the world. But even if you can't make it to a live performance, you can still enjoy opera by watching recordings online or listening to them on the radio. Who knows? You might just find yourself falling in love with this timeless art form.
