| Opera is a form of theatre in which the drama | | | | by spoken dialogue. Melodic or semi-melodic |
| is conveyed wholly or predominantly through | | | | passages occurring in the midst of, or |
| music and singing. Opera emerged in Italy | | | | instead of, recitative, are also referred to |
| around the year 1600 and is generally | | | | as arioso. During the Baroque and Classical |
| associated with the Western classical music | | | | periods, recitative could appear in two basic |
| tradition. Opera uses many of the elements of | | | | forms: secco (dry) recitative, accompanied |
| spoken theatre such as scenery, costumes, and | | | | only by "continuo", which was often no more |
| acting. Generally, however, opera is | | | | than a harpsichord; or accompagnato (also |
| distinguished from other dramatic forms by | | | | known as "stromentato") in which the |
| the importance of song. The singers are | | | | orchestra provided accompaniment. By the 19th |
| accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging | | | | century, accompagnato had gained the upper |
| from a small instrumental ensemble to a full | | | | hand, the orchestra played a much bigger |
| symphonic orchestra. Opera may also | | | | role, and Richard Wagner revolutionised opera |
| incorporate dance; this was especially true | | | | by abolishing almost all distinction between |
| of French opera for much of its history. | | | | aria and recitative in his quest for what he |
| | | | termed "endless melody". Subsequent composers |
| Comparable art forms from various other parts | | | | have tended to follow Wagner's example, |
| of the world, many of them ancient in origin, | | | | though some, such as Stravinsky in his The |
| exist and are also sometimes called "opera" | | | | Rake's Progress have bucked the trend. The |
| by analogy, usually prefaced with an | | | | terminology of the various kinds of operatic |
| adjective indicating the region (for example, | | | | voices is described in Section 3 below. |
| Chinese opera). These independent traditions | | | | |
| are not derivative of Western opera, but are | | | | The word opera means "works" in Italian (from |
| rather distinct forms of musical theatre. | | | | the plural of Latin opus meaning "work" or |
| Opera is also not the only type of Western | | | | "labour") suggesting that it combines the |
| musical theatre: in the ancient world, Greek | | | | arts of solo and choral singing, declamation, |
| drama featured singing and instrumental | | | | acting and dancing in a staged spectacle. |
| accompaniment; and in modern times, other | | | | Dafne by Jacopo Peri was the earliest |
| forms such as the musical have appeared. | | | | composition considered opera, as understood |
| | | | today. It was written around 1597, largely |
| The words of an opera are known as the | | | | under the inspiration of an elite circle of |
| libretto (literally "little book"). Some | | | | literate Florentine humanists who gathered as |
| composers, notably Richard Wagner, have | | | | the "Camerata". Significantly, Dafne was an |
| written their own libretti; others have | | | | attempt to revive the classical Greek drama, |
| worked in close collaboration with their | | | | part of the wider revival of antiquity |
| librettists, e.g. Mozart with Lorenzo da | | | | characteristic of the Renaissance. The |
| Ponte. Traditional opera consists of two | | | | members of the Camerata considered that the |
| modes of singing: recitative, the | | | | "chorus" parts of Greek dramas were |
| plot-driving passages often sung in a | | | | originally sung, and possibly even the entire |
| non-melodic style characteristic of opera, | | | | text of all roles; opera was thus conceived |
| and aria (an "air" or formal song) in which | | | | as a way of "restoring" this situation. Dafne |
| the characters express their emotions in a | | | | is unfortunately lost. A later work by Peri, |
| more structured melodic style. Duets, trios | | | | Euridice, dating from 1600, is the first |
| and other ensembles often occur, and choruses | | | | opera score to have survived to the present |
| are used to comment on the action. In some | | | | day. The honour of being the first opera |
| forms of opera, such as Singspiel, | | | | still to be regularly performed, however, |
| opéra comique, operetta, and | | | | goes to Claudio Monteverdi's Orfeo, composed |
| semi-opera, the recitative is mostly replaced | | | | for the court of Mantua in 1607. |