Referred
to their work as dramma per musica [drama through music] Operas
of the 17th and 18th cent. used myth at first and plots about historical
figures later. Eventually
separated into two distinct genres, the opera seria (serious
opera) and the opera buffa (comic opera). Jacopo
Peri's Euridice (1600), set to verse by Ottavio Rinuccini, is
generally considered the first opera. Baroque
Opera (Rome & Venice) 1.
Recitative
and aria became
clearly differentiated 2.
More use of choruses and instrumental forms 3.
Librettos included comic scenes, which had no part in earlier operas. The
Opera reached its peak with Claudio Monteverdi in Venice The
art form had begun as entertainment for the aristocracy and it became available
to popular audiences. 1637
the first public opera house in the world opened in Venice, and by 1700 at least
16 more theaters were built and hundreds of operas produced. Why
was Monteverdi important? 1.
introduction of bel canto and buffo styles 2.
His music reflected the moods and dramatic vividness of the libretto After this in Venice 1620’s -
Developed an international style developed, and local schools
disappeared. -
Recitative diminished in musical interest in favor of the aria -
the chorus gave way to the virtuoso soloist -
Renaissance interest in antiquities was superseded by a trend toward
lofty scenes punctuated by comedy and parody.
1600
- opera came into being
Began
in Florence Italy - the “Camerata” (society) - group of scholars,
philosophers and amateur musicans (librettist
- Rinuccini, Peri and Caccini )
Monodic
musical declamation, i.e., a single melodic line with modest
accompaniment
-
inspired by the example of ancient Greek drama
-
took their plots from mythology, the legend of Orpheus and
Eurydice being one of the most popular