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Opera is a key part of Western classical music, and Italian in particular, tradition. [3] Originally understood as an entirely sung piece, in contrast to a play with songs, opera has come to include numerous genres, including some that include spoken dialogue such as Singspiel and Opéra comique.
Jun 18, 2024 · Opera is a theatrical work with music and libretto that expresses drama and emotion. Learn about the origins, types, and features of opera in the Western tradition and its global variations.
Opera is an art form that tells a story through music and singing, with orchestra and singers. Learn about the history, genres, voice types, and staging of opera with ENO's videos and FAQs.
- Operas are sung in many different languages, but (sadly) opera isn’t a language itself. Some of the most popular languages for opera are: Italian,...
- The first operas originated in Italy and were born out of older, often medieval forms of courtly or religious entertainment. Read our History of Opera
- Opera was invented in the early 17th Century during the Renaissance period and soon spread from it’s origins in Italy across the rest of Western Eu...
- The word ‘aria’ comes from the Italian for ‘air’ and is a piece of music written for one singer which may or may not be accompanied by the orchestr...
- The text sung in an opera is called the ‘libretto’ -, which literally means ‘little book’ in Italian – and is written by a librettist. Unlike the t...
- Yes, very much so! There are opera houses located in major cities across the world. And there are various new operas being composed all the time, t...
- An opera can last anywhere from one to five hours, however there are some exceptions – including Wagner’s Ring Cycle, which has around 15 hours of...
- Operas are most commonly often staged at an opera house or theatre, such as the London Coliseum, home to ENO. Opera houses have been designed speci...
- “When I Am Laid in Earth” by Jessye Norman. “When I Am Laid in Earth” is an aria from Henry Purcell’s opera “Dido and Aeneas.” Purcell wrote the opera in 1689 for his friend John Blow’s girls’ school.
- “Largo al Factotum” by Tito Gobbi. “Largo al Factotum” offers a very different answer to the question “What is opera?” The aria comes from Gioachino Rossini’s comic opera “Il Barbieri de Siviglia,” better known to many as “The Barber of Seville.”
- “Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves” by The Metropolitan Opera Chorus. It’s impossible to answer “What is opera?” without discussing the chorus. Chorus sizes vary, but we challenge opera-goers to name an opera that doesn’t feature at least one song for the choir.
- “Polonaise From Eugene Onegin” by Ukrainian National Opera Company. Tchaikovsky’s opera “Eugene Onegin or Seven Lyric Scenes” is fascinating to dissect because it’s perfectly symmetrical.
Musicals and operas both feature singing at their core, but what separates the two art forms? Find hundreds of insightful guides at classical-music.com.
Opera is a form of staged music drama in which all or part of the text is sung. Learn how opera emerged in Italy in the early seventeenth century and how it overcomes the challenges of combining drama and music.
Opera developed in western Europe in the early 17th century as a means of bringing together all the arts, including painting, poetry, drama, dance and music. Our collections document its evolution from early Baroque extravaganzas through to contemporary productions.
