Opera, Act II – July 2023



Did you enjoy your ice cream? Right, the house lights are dimming, time for Act II.

A necessarily brief overview of opera. No two academics can agree on when the first opera was written, but opera as we recognise it today flourished in the 17th century, with Handel and Purcell dominating. Whilst musically elaborate, these operas were reasonably small affairs, and inevitably evolved into larger, often less reverent pieces, exemplified by Mozart’s works. By the way, if you’d like recommendations, you’ll have to wait for the next act…

You’ve doubtless heard the term grand opera, which emerged during the next fifty years or so, and means pretty much what you imagine it does. Two contrasting styles enjoyed equal success in this period, tragedy (ends badly) and comedy (like a pantomime but with more singing). Rossini was the king of comic opera, although how funny his pieces actually are will be looked at next month.

Interestingly, some composers were all-rounders, turning their hands to many musical forms, Mozart being the most obvious example of this. Others had less to do with opera, Beethoven famously only completing one (Fidelio, bound to come up in a pub quiz sooner or later, you’re welcome). The two names who shaped opera in the late nineteenth century – Wagner and Verdi – are remembered almost exclusively for their operatic output.

If your conception of opera involves breast-plates, dragons and enormous running times, then you’re thinking of Wagner. As I said, next month I’ll be making some suggestions for opera novices, but here’s a sneak preview – don’t go to a Wagner for your first operatic experience.

Opera has followed the dominant movements in broader classical music, with romanticism making way for modernism, atonality and other such off putting terms. And if you’re thinking “hold on, where’s Puccini and Bizet?”, they’ll be along next month.

Before we go and get another ice cream, a quick word about home entertainment. Is it acceptable to listen to selected highlights, or do you need to hear the entire piece?

Go with the greatest hits. Ignore the snobs, leave them to their fourteen-hour Wagner marathons. They deserve it.

Right, raspberry ripple or chocolate?