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The Singspiel became the most popular form of German opera, especially in the hands of the composer Johann Adam Hiller. Hiller's 1766 reworking of the Singspiel Die verwandelten Weiber was a landmark in the history of the genre, although his most famous work would be Die Jagd (1770).
- Overview and Characteristics -
- Origins -
- Spread and Development -
- Notable Practitioners -
- Greater Significance and Legacy -
Opera is a mix of music, singing, drama, costumes, and poetry combined into a coordinated theatrical performance. It is based on a libretto, which serves as the script of the opera. The libretto may be an original work or based on a famous play or novel. Performers sing the text. This art form incorporates 2 types of singing, recitative and arias. ...
The origins of opera can be traced back to 16th Century Italy. The first recorded use of the term “opera” was in 1639 although the first opera composition was written in 1597. This first opera, entitled “Dafne”, was created with the hope of reviving classical Greek drama as part of the broader Renaissance movement. Opera spread throughout Europe ov...
As opera grew more popular over the years, its composers began to develop different genres. Opera seria, a serious style, emerged as the most common genre until the end of the 1700’s. This seriousness gave way to a comedic genre with opera buffa. By the mid-1700’s, some composers were calling for a simpler style of opera, a challenge undertaken by ...
Professional opera singers began to emerge during the mid-1600’s as a result of popular interest in the art. Since then, some very notable singers have left their marks on opera history. Some of the most famous founding singers include Faustina Bordoni, Joseph Legros, and Senesino. In more modern times, singers such as Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Call...
Today, opera remains an important expression of musical and dramatic artistry. Similar to other great art forms, it provides its audience with both entertainment and the ability to self-reflect. Opera continues to offer a unique take on storytelling that helps its audience view the world through a different lens. It is so important to society that ...
- Amber Pariona
Dec 8, 2022 · The beginnings of German-language opera can only be sketched loosely based on available sources. Our knowledge of its early history depends on ‘dates without visual aids’ 1 and ‘words without songs’, that is, mentions of performances and dates in more-or-less reliable archives, chronicles, and bibliographies, 2 as well as mute libretti, which ultimately only hint at how the first opera ...
- Sigmund Theophil Staden - Seelewig. Although German opera history began in 1627 with composer Heinrich Schutz’s German translation of the Italian opera Dafne, the score to that piece unfortunately no longer exists.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Die Zauberflöte. While “simple” Singspiele were the favoured style among the German public in the mid-17th century, at court and elsewhere across Europe, the grander and more dramatic Italian style was in vogue.
- Ludwig van Beethoven - Fidelio. After Mozart’s premature death, contemporaries such as Ludwig van Beethoven saw his opera as something to aspire to - and build upon.
- Carl Maria von Weber - Der Freischütz. In the late 18th century and early 19th century, Romanticism began to exert an influence over German composers. As a cultural movement, Romanticism sparked a revival of interest in the Middle Ages and German folklore, with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales and German medieval epics as particular sources of inspiration.
Its influence can still be heard in modern opera today, and it remains a beloved and important part of the operatic repertoire. Modern Opera (1900-present) The 20th century brought a new era of experimentation and innovation to opera, with composers such as Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky, and Benjamin Britten pushing the boundaries of traditional opera and exploring new forms and techniques.
The figure of more than 80 opera houses in the destination of Germany is unparalleled anywhere else, as is the number of premieres. Since Germany's first opera house opened its doors on Munich's Salvatorplatz in 1657, opera has become one of the pillars of national culture; a magnet for millions of visitors from all over the world – and for outstanding performers.
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Oct 20, 2023 · The first Italian operas emerged at the end of the 16th century in Florence, and it would take nearly 60 years for the first German opera house to finish construction in Munich. Nevertheless, Germany has a rich and proud opera tradition, and today the country boasts more than 80 opera houses, the most in the world.
