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In scholarly and historical musical contexts, melodramas are Victorian dramas in which orchestral music or song was used to accompany the action. The term is now also applied to stage performances without incidental music, novels, films, television, and radio broadcasts.
The pioneer and prime exponent of the 18th-century French melodrama with its music, singing, and spectacular effects was Guilbert de Pixérécourt. His Coelina, ou l’enfant de mystère (1800) was translated as A Tale of Mystery (1802) by Thomas Holcroft and established the new genre in England.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Nov 28, 2021 · The term “melodrama” originated from a combination of the Greek melos meaning “melody” or “song” and the French word drame meaning “drama.” Melodramas were originally theatrical stage plays combining music and dialogue. They were especially popular during the Victorian Era.
Jun 10, 2024 · Melodrama emerged as a distinct form of theatre in the late 18th century, primarily in France and England. The 19th century witnessed the genre’s peak in popularity and artistic development. Early English melodramas were often exotic, with settings in faraway lands.
The ‘first’ English melodrama is still usually said to be Thomas Holcroft’s A Tale of Mystery, his sleek and powerful adaptation of Pixérécourt’s Coelina; ou l’enfant du mystère (1800), presented as an afterpiece at Covent Garden in 1802.
Originating from the Greek words “melos” meaning music, and “drama,” the genre has deep roots in theater. In films like Douglas Sirk’s Imitation of Life and Todd Haynes’ Far from Heaven, melodrama is used as a tool to explore social issues under the guise of overwrought emotions and interpersonal dilemmas.
Apr 12, 2012 · The development of melodrama can perhaps be seen as one of the Romantic period's most important legacies within the history of English drama. Although the arrival of the form within England has often...
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