The history of Italian opera!! English

Answer]: 1. The development and characteristics of early Italian opera.

1. Florentine Opera:

1) The first opera: Eulydice, performed in 1600 and composed by Perry and Caccini, is intact.

2) Features: Based on Greek mythology, the ** part adopts the form of continuo bass, the singing part is mainly in the recitative form of chanting, beating, the vocal range is not wide, the rhythm is free, there are a small number of musical accompaniment, and the chorus is also used.

2. Venice Opera:

1) The establishment of the first opera house: the first opera house established in Venice in 1637 --- San Cassiano, which moved opera from the nobility and the court to the burghers.

2) Representative figures and works: Orfeo, completed by the Venetian opera composer Monteverdi in 1607.

3) Features: A large number of arias and duets are used, focusing on the expression of feelings, and stringed instruments occupy an important position in the state hall.

3. Neapolitan Opera:

1) Towards opera: Naples was the last city to develop opera in Italy, starting at the end of the 17th century and finalizing it as opera in the 18th century.

2) Representative figure: A. Scarlatti, the representative of the Neapolitan school, composed arias with free development on the basis of vocal lyricism, giving bel canto singing a broad world. The representative work is "Teodora".

3) Features:

Content: Mostly based on ancient myths and historical legends, the content is serious, as opposed to comedy.

Structurally, the opera changes from a five-act opera to a compact three-act structure, with a very individual overture (fast-slow-fast three-part form), alternating recitatives and back-to-back arias, with little use of duets and choruses, and no dancing.

Analysis: Italian opera was born at the turn of the century, and its emergence marked the beginning of a new stylistic era. Opera is a comprehensive art form combined with drama, which first originated in tragicomedy in ancient Greece and eventually produced in Florence, Italy.

Therefore, the Italian opera was born in Florence, grew up in Venice, and matured in Naples. Subsequently, Italian opera went through three important periods in its development: the classicist period, the romantic period, and the realist period.

The latter two periods are the most critical.

The development of Italian opera in the 17th century can be summarized as follows: 1Pre-operatic period (1600-1630s):

Italian opera of this period was developed on the basis of ** drama, comedy and mythological drama. It is characterized by a short and concise script, of which ** and singing are only one component, not the main form of expression. 2.

Monteverdi period (1630-1680s): Monteverdi was an important figure in the development of Italian opera, and he contributed greatly to the script, ** and stage design. His operas focused on characterization and plot development, with ** and singing becoming the main forms of expression.

3.Hector Armani period (1680-1720s): Hector Armani is a representative of Italian opera in the 18th century, and his operas pay more attention to the performance of the song and the singing, and express the characters and plots through a variety of forms and singing voices.

4.Baroque period (1720s-1760s): The opera of this period paid more attention to ** and stage effects, paid more attention to the use of choral and orchestral music, and more attention was paid to singing and performance skills.

In general, the development of Italian opera in the 17th century has undergone a transformation from a script based on land rental to a focus on singing and singing, and at the same time integrating different artistic expressions to develop a unique form of opera.