> OPERA HISTORY BY THE NUMBERS
Opera as an art form begins at the end of the 16th century in Florence when a group of aristocratic intellectuals attempt to recreate Greek drama. Many of the ancient choral passages were chanted, if not sung, so this group created “drama per musica,” a musical play. At first, the words were what’ was important and the music reinforced that. In the 18th century, that view flipped and the music became the focus. Today, composers and librettists are trying to get back to the art form’s roots, with the words once again taking precedence. The figures below are rough estimates provided by Iain Scott.
Three eras of opera
10 per cent of operas performed today come from the period 1600 to 1815. This era is known as “candlelight opera.”
80 per cent of operas performed today come from the period between 1815 (the defeat of Napoleon) and 1915 (beginning of the First World War). This era is known as “gaslight opera.”
10 per cent of operas performed today come from the period 1915 to today. This era is known as “electric light opera.” Opera by nation
60 per cent of operas are written in Italian, where the emphasis is on the libretto or voice. The role of the orchestra is to accompany it.
20 per cent are German, where opera is viewed as an orchestral work and the voice is merely part of that orchestral web. What really matters is what the opera is about. “It should be meaningful,” Scott says. “It should be art.”
10 per cent are French, where the emphasis is on extravagance and spectacle. Scott calls this the “I live on the Bridle Path” view of opera.
10 per cent are operas written in other languages, including English.
Where to start When diving into the ridiculously dense world of opera, most agree the best way in is to start at the end of the “gaslight period” and work your way backwards. “Beyond the war period you’re into a niche of the operatic niche,” Scott says, referring to the years after the First World War. Below are some operas to start with:
Giacomo Puccini: La Bohème, Madama Butterfly, Tosca
Giuseppe Verdi: Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata
Gioachino Rossini: The Barber of Seville