The world of opera
Chapter 1
The birth of a spectacle
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Chapter 2
The anatomy of an opera
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Chapter 3
Great masters and their masterpieces
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Chapter 4
Opera around the world
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YOUR GOAL
Master of The world of opera
Ch 1 · The birth of a spectacle
diletta The Birth of Opera
Chasing ancient Greece, getting it all wrong, opera was born!
Fun Fact
Opera's first hit: The oldest surviving opera still regularly performed today is Claudio Monteverdi's 'L'Orfeo', which premiered way back in 1607.
Glossary
opera (noun)
A dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists. This theatrical tradition began in Florence around 1600, seeking to recreate ancient Greek musical dramas.
A dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists. This theatrical tradition began in Florence around 1600, seeking to recreate ancient Greek musical dramas.
Quiz
What was the name of the first opera ever written, composed by Jacopo Peri in 1597?
Quiz
Which composer led the 'operatic reform' of the 1760s to make storytelling more important than vocal showboating?
Quiz
Which composer wrote 'L'Orfeo' in 1607, widely considered the first operatic masterpiece?
Quiz
Which famous 18th-century singer, born Carlo Broschi, was the most celebrated castrato in opera history?
Quiz
What was the name of the first public, commercial opera house opened in Venice in 1637?
Quiz
What ancient civilization's theatrical traditions did the creators of opera attempt to recreate?