Elements of Opera Music Appreciation

Discover the elements of opera music appreciation by learning about the history, key features, and famous operas.

Introduction

Most people think of opera as a grand and serious art form, and it can be. But opera is also funny, tragic, daring, moving – anything its creators want it to be. And while opera has historical roots in Europe going back many centuries, today it’s enjoyed all over the world.

Opera is a unique blend of music, theater and sometimes even dance. It usually tells a story using music (called an “aria” or “recitative”) instead of spoken words. The music in an opera is written by a composer, the story is usually adapted from another work (like a book or play), and the whole thing is brought to life by singers, musicians and even actors/dancers.

The word “opera” actually comes from the Italian word for “work” – so when we say “opera,” we really mean “a work of art.”

What is Opera?

Opera is a musical art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance. The performance is typically given in an opera house, accompanied by an orchestra or smaller musical ensemble.

Opera is a demanding art form that blends many skills and disciplines including music, singing, acting, stagecraft, and design. A typical opera production involves a large number of people working together to create a performance that can be enjoyed by an audience.

The word “opera” is derived from the Italian word “opera”, which means “work”. It was originally used to describe a specific genre of drama that combines music and dance. Over time, the term “opera” came to be used more broadly to refer to any dramatic work that includes music as an essential element.

The Three Types of Opera

Opera can be defined as a dramatic art form that is typically characterized by lavish costumes, scenery, and musical accompaniment. There are three primary types of opera: grand opera, comic opera, and tragic opera.

Grand Opera:
Grand opera is the most opulent and extravagant type of opera. It is characterized by large-scale productions with elaborate sets and costumes, as well as multiple musical interludes. Grand operas often have plots that are based on historical or mythological events. Examples of grand operas include Verdi’s Aida and Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen.

Comic Opera:
Comic opera, also known as operetta, is a type of opera that is usually lighter in tone and features characters that are engage in humorous hijinks. The plots of comic operas are often romantic in nature and end happily. Examples of comic operas include Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld and Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado.

Tragic Opera:
Tragic opera, also known as serious opera, is a type of opera that features stories with tragic or serious endings. The music in tragic operas is typically more emotional than that of comic operas. Examples of tragic operas include Verdi’s La Traviata and Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

The History of Opera

Opera is a form of theatre in which music has a leading role and the parts are sung by soloists. A distinction is often made between lyric opera, in which the story is conveyed mainly or entirely through music, and dramatic opera, in which words are as important as the music. However, there is no sharp dividing line: many operas, such as Wagner’s Parsifal and Strauss’s Elektra, straddle the two categories.

Opera originated in Italy in the late 16th century. It quickly spread to other countries in Europe, such as Germany, France and England. Today, opera houses can be found all over the world.

The word “opera” is Italian for “work” or “piece”. It was originally used to describe a form of Renaissance drama that was partly sung. This type of drama was popular in Venice during the 16th century.

The first opera house was built in Venice in 1637. The first opera staged there was Dafne by Jacopo Peri. This was followed by Euridice by Giulio Caccini. These two works are generally regarded as the first operas ever written.

The Different Elements of Opera

There are several different elements that go into making an opera. There is the music, of course, but also the drama, the costumes, the scenery, and often times there is even a ballet. All of these elements come together to create a unique and often very emotional experience for the audience.

The Libretto

The libretto is the text of an opera. It usually tells a story, and can be either original or based on a pre-existing work, such as a play or a novel. The librettist is the person who writes the text. In some cases, the composer may also write the libretto.

The music of an opera is divided into distinct sections, or numbers. These are usually separated by dialogue, and sometimes by changes in scene or location. The numbers can be divided into three broad categories:

1. Recitative – This is declamatory speech-based singing, used to advance the plot. It often has a more rapid delivery than normal speech, and makes use of stock phrases (such as “Oh terror!”).

2. Aria – A solo vocal number in which the character expresses his or her emotions. This could be a love song, a lament, or an expression of joy. An aria typically lasts for about three minutes.

3. Ensemble – A number for two or more characters, which could be any combination of solos, duets, or choruses. Ensembles can also include instruments (such as in a concerto).

The Music

The music of opera is usually composed by a composer, although it may also be created by an impresario, librettist, or other team of collaborators. The music must be written specifically to be performed by singers with musical accompaniment. It should be noted that not all musicals are operas; for example, musical theater generally does not use recitative.

The plot of an opera is called the libretto (literally “little book”). It is usually written in Italian (even if the opera is in another language), although other languages are occasionally used, such as German (especially for operas by Wagner) or French. There are several different types of opera:

-Comic opera contains elements of both tragedy and comedy, often involving mistaken identity, deceptions, and humorous results. Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and Donizetti’s Don Pasquale are examples of comic operas.
-Grand opera is a serious opera that tells a dramatic story involving large-scale sets and action on stage as well as complex vocal numbers. Verdi’s Aida and Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (“The Ring Cycle”) are examples of grand operas.
-Opera buffa is a lighter form of comic opera that often includes farcical situations and witty exchanges. Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni are examples of operas buffa.

The Singers

The first step in casting an opera is to engage the services of a good music director. Once the music director is in place, it is his or her responsibility to find the right singers for the roles. In a professional production, the music director will work with a casting director, who may also be responsible for finding understudies and chorus members.

The lead roles in an opera are generally sung by professional opera singers. These are usually people who have trained for many years and have had significant experience performing operatic roles. Opera companies will often engage guest artists to sing lead roles, especially if the company does not have any singers who are able to perform that particular role.

The secondary roles in an opera are generally sung by professional opera singers as well. These roles may be sung by people who are just starting out in their careers, or by more experienced singers who are not yet ready to tackle a lead role.

The minor roles and chorus parts in an opera are usually sung by amateurs or semi-professionals. These include people who have some singing experience, but who are not training to be professional opera singers. Many community choirs take part in operatic productions, and this can be a good way to get involved in the world of opera if you are not a professional singer.

The Orchestra

In order to create the special sound of opera, composers wrote music for a large orchestra. The word orchestra comes from two Greek words: “orchein” meaning to dance, and “trapeza” meaning a table. In ancient Greece, the word referred to the area in front of the stage where the chorus danced. Today an orchestra is a group of musical instrument players who perform together. The opera orchestra contains all four families of instruments: woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings.

The woodwind section contains flutes, oboes, clarinets, and bassoons. In some operas the bassoon has a very important role to play. For example, in Richard Wagner’s opera Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), the character of Alberich is accompanied by a bassoon solo whenever he appears on stage.

The brass section contains French horns, trumpets, trombones, and tubas. In many operas it is typical for there to be fanfares or triumphant calls played by brass instruments whenever a hero or heroine appears on stage.

The percussion section provides special effects such as cymbals and thunder sheets as well as playing rhythm instruments such as drums and triangles.

The string section is usually the largest group in the opera orchestra. It includes violins (which are divided into two groups), violas, cellos (sometimes called “violoncellos”), and double basses (often called “contrabasses”).

The Chorus

The chorus in an opera is very similar to the chorus in a Greek play. It is a group of people who sing and sometimes dance. They are often used to represent the citizens of a city or the common people. The chorus can also be used to comment on the action of the story.

The Costumes

In the earliest operas the actors wore their normal clothes. As time went on, and productions became more elaborate, they began to wear costumes that were symbolic of their characters. The costumes were often very colourful and helped the audience understand who the characters were supposed to be. Even today, opera singers often wear costumes that help create a certain mood or feeling.

The Sets

In opera, the scenery is usually elaborate and is an important part of the production. It is interesting to note that the sets are not just backdrops, but they are designed to be an integral part of the action by providing entrances and exits for the performers and by being moved about to represent different locations.

The Sets During the Intermezzo
During the intermezzo, which is the portion of an opera between Acts II and III, the stage crew will move the scenery around, and sometimes they will even change it completely. This gives the audience a chance to stretch their legs and get something to eat or drink before the final act.

Conclusion

We have now looked at all of the important elements of opera music appreciation. We have considered the history of opera, the different types of opera, the important composers and their works, and the various elements that make up an opera performance. By understanding all of these elements, you will be able to more fully appreciate any opera performance you attend.