Let’s know about Opera Day.
Shivaksh Sharma.
Opera Day is celebrated every year on February 8. Although many of us would recognize opera if we have heard it, we may not be well versed with the definitions and intricacies of this musical genre. In short, opera is a piece of performing art that combines music with words or dialogue to create a dramatic enactment of a story. Opera is a combination of acting, scenery, costumes and dance. The word ‘opera’ in Italian means ‘work’, and the text is called ‘libretto’, which means “little book.” Operas are further classified as opera seria (noble and serious), opera buffa (comical), operetta (light opera) and semi-opera (combining spoken dialogue with masque-like segments).
History of Opera Day
Opera was born out of the classical music tradition in the West. It first originated in Italy and then spread throughout Europe to France, Germany, Russia, and England. Opera was first known for its focus on the chorus by recreating plays from the ancient Greeks. The first season of opera took place in Venice in 1637, becoming a popular art form of entertainment ever since. Since its beginnings, the opera art form has evolved and diverged in many ways throughout its history. For much of the 18th century, opera seria, with its exquisite style and spectacular performances, was the most beloved form among Italians.
Still, like all artistic movements, there were those who wanted to innovate within the existing art form. Mozart is famous for his comic operas such as ‘The Marriage of Figaro’, while Verdi is famous for confident, patriotic operas. Wagner was one of the most influential opera composers, transforming individual recitatives and arias into “endless melodies” and developing the idea of the ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ (complete artwork), where he synthesised different art forms into one.