Question

Discuss the development of opera during the Baroque Era.

This is a music 101 class question. It is should be some simple answer. Thanks

Answer 1

Opera is an art form (musical) in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text which is also called a libretto and musical score, usually in a theatre.

The first ever operas were written around 1600 by Baroque composers and this genre quickly took off.

Early operas used dramatic text and music to express their stories, which were usually based on Classical Greek and Roman mythology.

Development of opera during the Baroque Era-

1. In the early 1600s, intellectuals thought that the music of day was trivial; therefore they took their inspiration from an era where drama and academia flourished in Ancient Greece.

2. In early opera, composers wrote emotive words with elaborate musical embellishments or classical harmonies to highlight the text.

3. “Dafne” by Jacopo Peri in 1598. This is the first continuously sung poastoral work, but without music.

4. Jacopo Peri and Giulio Caccini each wrote a version of the Orpheus legend, “Euridice”, writing music to the text by the court poet.

5. Happy ending uses of choruses and songs, a simple plot, and a small group of instrumentalists.

6. Monteverdi’s version of Orpheus story “Orfeo”, which was written in 1607, is still popular today. Interesting music, dancing, and dramatic ornaments to highlight important words in the libretto by Alessandro Striggio.

7. Monteverdi wrote another opera “Arianna”, then write “Licori finta pazza” in 1627 almost after 20 years.

8. Monteverdi’s pupil Cavalli wrote around 32 operas from 1639 to 1673. He used the recitative to propel the story and made use of a new form of aria, a “da capo” aria in two sections, where the first section is repeated at the end of the song.

9. By 1670s, opera’s popularity had spread all over Italy. The audience favored longer songs and preferred listening to upper voices, particularly the male castrato singers.

10. Alessandro Scarlatti was a prolific opera composer in the late 1600s and early 1700s. his music marks an important transition between the Italian Baroque vocal techniques used by earlier composers, and the music of the early Classical period.

11. Handel composed an impressive 42 operas from 1705 to 1741.

12. Vivaldi composed 94 operas according to his claim. He was best composer known for his concertos.

13. French opera- composers like Perrin and Lully developed the genre in France.

14. By 1714, light-hearted pieces were being called “operas comiques” in France. These were so successful that the Comede-Francaise had them banned in Paris, for fear of competition. The Opera-Comique in Paris still hosts performances to this day, after being set up in 1793.

15. The Baroque Era ended around 1750, when one of its greatest musical composers, Bach died.