What is opera, opera history

What is opera, opera history

What do we know about opera? Any musicologist will say that this is a synthetic genre that combines different types of art. A simple listener will answer this question differently, probably by mentioning that a mandatory attribute of any opera is singing and dramatic action unfolding on the stage. A connoisseur of classical music with an important view will note about the special benefit of opera music for both adults and children, because we can enjoy not only listening to musical instruments, but also the voice, beautiful and charming.

Story

The genre itself appeared relatively recently, only some five centuries ago, in Italy at the turn of the XVI-XVII centuries. Its prototypes were the theatrical mysteries, but in them the music was only a background, and the distribution of solo numbers with instrumental accompaniment played a big role. Interestingly, the term "opera" was introduced later than the work itself. So, composers who composed the first works in this genre at the turn of the XVI-XVII centuries called them "drama per musica" (drama on music). Their occurrence was due to an attempt to revive the ancient Greek tragedy. So, the first samples of the new genre of that time are Daphne (1597) and Efridika (1600) I. Peri. However, the opera style of these works was still far from the classical model.

In 1607, in Mantua, C. Monteverdi staged his opera Eurydice, which is already distinguished by drama, a rich palette of expressiveness. In 1639, the term "opera" (work, business) was first used to designate such compositions.

The development of the opera genre

Since its inception, the opera has been refined and subjected to all sorts of changes literally every century. Thus, the Venetian school, represented by F. Cavalli, M. Honor, J. Legrenzi, begins to strengthen the role of the melodic beginning in this genre, and also establishes vocal forms. This trend is successfully continued by the composers of the Neapolitan school of the early 18th century (A. Scarlatti, N. Porpora, L. Leo, F. Provenzale). It is at this time that the form of the aria is established, and also the vocal numbers and recitative are divided.

This reformer in this genre K. Gluck, in his works ("Orpheus and Eurydice", "Alceste", "Iphigenia in Tauris" he collected the achievements of Italian opera and the French tragedy.

Creativity of V. Mozart is considered to be the true peak in the development of the genre. It was in his work that the opera flourished, it absorbed all the achievements of previous eras and national schools. He created bright expressive theatrical images with his characters and emotions, embodied all the complexities of conflicts, relationships and intrigues. So, "The Wedding of Figaro" is written in the style of the Italian opera-buffa, "Don Juan" is a combination of comedy with high tragedy.

With the advent of the romantic era in the XIX century, the opera comes to the fore. One of the main ideas of that period was the close interrelation of various types of art, which manifests itself in this genre. Among the composers of romantics who have contributed to the development of opera are: J. Rossini, J. Verdi, R. Wagner. Among the composers of the Russian school, M. Glinka, A. Borodin, M. Mussorgsky, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, P. Tchaikovsky and others made a great contribution to the development of opera.

What is more important in opera

Of course, in this matter there should be no doubt. The championship belongs to the music. It is she who accurately and sensitively conveys the emotions, character and feelings of the characters. However, this was not always the case, for some time the librettist was considered the author of the opera, and not the composer. It was even such that opera singers demanded winning parts from the composer, he obeyed both the librettist and the artists. In Russia in the 18th century, they did not even designate his name in comic operas.

What is the power of opera

Opera art is very popular these days. After all, this is an unusual genre in which dramatic art, dance, literature, pantomime, visual art, and, of course, music dominate are intertwined. She is able to accurately convey human experiences in all the finest shades. That is why the influence of music on the emotional and aesthetic development of man is so widespread. Each masterpiece of opera art is a diverse and impressive world of interesting scenes full of vivid characters, with their own feelings and experiences, a world of rich melodic sound, harmony and orchestral colors.