![]() ![]() Opera wasn't born in a vacuum, however for most of the sixteenth century, musical theatrical spectacles became more and more common to commemorate significant events. Most of the music for Dafne is lost, although the libretto survives. The Camerata believed that at least the chorus sections of classical Greek plays had been sung, and perhaps the whole work. Opera - where did it start, and what is it? Inspired by Greek drama, and through the ideas of an educated circle of Florentine humanists called the Camerata, Jacopo Peri's Dafne is the earliest composition that can be considered to be a true opera. ![]() Looking at a brief history of each can be useful in seeing both similarities and differences. And like many musicals, some of the roles - particularly Papageno, Monostatos and Papagena - sit as well in the hands of singing actors as they do with opera singers. ![]() Other mainstream operas such as The Magic Flute could equally be argued to be operetta, or even early musical theatre - much of the plot is spoken dialogue, and although there are dark themes and quests to be overcome, for the good guys, everyone lives happily ever after. Although Andrew Lloyd-Webber's The Phantom of the Opera is firmly a musical, both Christine and Carlotta need a strong classical technique to master their roles. However, it isn't an opera - not every role requires an 'opera' singer, or an operatic technique. Opera vs operetta, and even operetta vs musical theatre can occasionally be difficult to determine, especially with works of a grand, 'operatic' scope.įor example, a role like Sweeney Todd in Sondheim's musical of the same name sits as well in the hands of an operatic bass-baritone as it does a suitable musical theatre performer indeed, the work sits in the repertoire of many opera houses worldwide. Like many artforms, the dividing lines between stage works including music are blurred. ![]()
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