What is Opera Seria? A Definition of the Music Genre

Opera seria is a form of Italian opera that was popular in the 18th century. The genre is characterized by its use of arias and recitative, as well as its focus on serious topics.

What is Opera Seria?

Opera seria is a type of opera that was popular in the 18th century. It is characterized by its serious subject matter and its use of arias.

A Definition

Opera seria was the most popular form of opera in the eighteenth century. It is a serious opera, usually with a heroic theme. The plots were often adapted from classical antiquity or taken from tragedies by such authors as Shakespeare and Racine. The musical style was formal and aristocratic, and the tone was nobility and conflict.

The first operas were written in the late sixteenth century, but opera seria did not become popular until the early 1700s. The genre reached its peak in the middle of the century and then declined in popularity towards the end of the century. Many composers wrote operas seria, but the most famous are George Frideric Handel and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Opera seria began to decline in popularity in the late 1700s for a number of reasons. One reason was that it was becoming less fashionable to sing about ancient heroes, as people were increasingly interested in stories about contemporary life. In addition, many people began to find opera seria’s formal style artificial and stilted. However, some composers continued to write operas seria until well into the nineteenth century.

The History of Opera Seria

Opera seria is a type of opera that was popular in the eighteenth century. It is distinguished from other types of opera by its use of recitative instead of spoken dialogue, and by its focus on serious subjects like mythology and history instead of comedy.

Opera seria began to take shape in the early 1600s with the development of what is known as stile recitativo, a style of recitative that was characterized by its naturalistic delivery and close resemblance to speech. The first full-length opera seria was Alessandro Scarlatti’s La turno d’Emilia di Roma, which premiered in Rome in 1690.

The popularity of opera seria reached its peak in the middle of the eighteenth century, with composers such as Johann Adolph Hasse, Nicola Porpora, and George Frideric Handel writing numerous works in the genre. However, by the end of the century, opera seria had fallen out of favor with audiences, who were now preferring lighter fare such as opera buffa.

What are the Characteristics of Opera Seria?

Opera seria is a genre of opera that was popular in the 18th century. It is characterized by its serious subject matter, its use of da capo arias, and its focus on the development of the characters through their music.

The Music

The typical operatic aria of the 1700s was called an “opera seria” aria. These pieces were characterized by their ornate melodic embellishments and complex musical structure. The arias were usually set in major keys and had a fast tempo. The da capo form, which featured a reprise of the opening section, was also common in opera seria.

In addition to the solo arias, opera seria featured manyshort vocal ensembles called “recitative secco.” These pieces were typically accompanied by simple chordal accompaniment from the orchestra. The recitative secco was often used to advance the plot or to provide exposition about the characters’ emotions.

The instrumental music in opera seria was also quite different from that of other genres of opera. The pit orchestra was typically much larger than in other types of opera, and it featured a wide variety of instruments, including trumpets, trombones, flutes, oboes, bassoons, violins, cellos, and basses. The music was often quite fiery and elaborate, with many fast-paced passages and extensive use of percussion.

The Libretto

Opera seria libretti were usually based on historical, mythological, or allegorical subjects. They tended to be long and complex, with many characters singing long soliloquies. The plots were often overly complicated, with subplots and counter-plots. As a result, opera seria was sometimes criticized as being “dry” or “stuffy”.

One of the most famous examples of opera seria is Handel’s “Xerxes”, which has a particularly complicated plot involving two brothers competing for the affections of the same woman. Other well-known examples include Mozart’s “Idomeneo” and Verdi’s “Otello”.

The Singers

In opera seria, the cast is usually divided into two types of characters: the Parenti (parents), who are older, more dignified characters, and the Figli (children), who are younger and often in love. TheParents usually advise the children, who do not always listen. Though there may be other characters with important roles, they will typically fall into one of these two categories.

The lead singer is called the Protagonista, and they usually sing in what is considered the “heroic” register. The deuteragonist is the second-most important character and they often have a relationship with the protagonista, whether they are friends, enemies, or lovers. The terzetto consists of three characters who sing together in a trio.

There are also supporting roles that do not always sing. These include the chorus (a group of singers who sing together), dancers (sometimes integrated into the chorus), supernumeraries (characters with no speaking or singing role), and extras (background characters).

Why is Opera Seria Important?

Opera seria was a form of serious opera that dominated the Italian musical scene for most of the eighteenth century. The style was characterized by ornate and grandiose music, declamatory singing, and a focus on mythological or ancient heroines and heroes. Even though it is not as popular as it once was, opera seria is still an important genre that helps to inform modern opera.

Its Influence on Other Genres

Opera seria’s greatest influence was on the development of opera buffa, a comedic genre. Comic opera can be traced back to the early days of opera seria, when singers frequently interpolated comic scenes or arias into the otherwise serious action. This practice became more common in the middle of the eighteenth century, as audiences increasingly demanded comic relief from the sometimes ponderous action of opera seria. Several of the most popular opera buffa composers, such as Giovanni Battista Pergolesi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, began their careers writing opera seria. In fact, Mozart’s first mature opera, Idomeneo, is an example of opera seria.

However, opera seria had another, more lasting influence on the development of nineteenth-century Italian opera: its use of recitative. Recitative is a type of musical declamation that is similar to spoken dialogue; it allows singers to move through sections of text rapidly without being hindered by lengthy melodic passages. This was a departure from traditional Italian vocal music, which was largely built around elaborate melodic singing. The use of recitative in opera seria paved the way for composers such as Giuseppe Verdi to write operas that focused more on drama and less on vocal display.

Its Place in Music History

Opera seria reached the peak of its popularity in the 18th century and was an important style of composition for opera houses across Europe. In France, it was known as tragédie lyrique and in Italy, opera seria was often simply referred to as “serious opera.” The music of opera seria typically included long arias and elaborate recitative, as well as dance movements. Famous composers who wrote in the genre include George Frideric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi, and Alessandro Scarlatti.

While it eventually fell out of fashion in the 19th century, opera seria had a significant influence on subsequent operatic styles. Many of the arias composed in this genre continue to be performed today and are considered to be some of the most beautiful ever written.