Types of Operas
- Comic Opera - Also known as light opera, this type of opera often tackles light, not so delicate subject matter where the ending often has a happy resolution. Other forms of this opera are opera buffa and operetta, to name a few. In this type of opera, the dialogue is often spoken and not sung. An example of this opera is La Serva Padrona (The Maid as Mistress) by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.
- Serious Opera - In Italian, it's opera seria, also referred to as Neopolitan opera mainly due to the volume of composers who were from Naples who contributed to this type of opera. Often, the story revolves around heroes and myths. Emphasis is also given to the solo voice and bel canto style. Bel canto is Italian for "beautiful singing;" the vocal style used by operatic singers in Italy which emerged during the 17th century. An example of this opera is Rinaldo by George Frideric Handel.
- Opera Semiseria - This type of opera has a serious story but has a happy ending. This is why some loosely define it as a combination of the elements of both comic and serious opera. An example of this is La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie} by Gioachino Rossini
- Opera Comique - This is a type of French opera wherein instead of singing, the lines are spoken. In its early form, it was satirical but would, later on, have serious storylines such as Carmen by Georges Bizet.
- Grand Opera - This refers to the type of opera which emerged in Paris during the 19th century. It's an opera of a larger scale, from the flamboyant costumes to the choruses; it also includes ballet. An example of this type is Robert le Diable by Giacomo Meyerbeer.
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Opera Verismo - Verismo is Italian for "realism;" it's a type of opera that emerged during the later part of the 19th century. Characters were often based on everyday people you may meet in real life, and the plot is often melodramatic. An example is Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo.
Most operas are written in French, German, and Italian. Euridice by Jacopo Peri is known as the earliest opera that's been preserved. One great composer who wrote operas was Claudio Monteverdi, specifically his La favola d'Orfeo (The Fable of Orpheus) which premiered in 1607 and thus known as the first grand opera. Another famous opera composer was Francesco Cavalli especially noted for his opera Giasone (Jason) which premiered in 1649.
More Opera Composers
- Benjamin Britten
- Gaetano Donizetti
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Giacomo Puccini
- Henry Purcell
- Richard Strauss
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Richard Wagner
- Vincenzo Bellini
