The Main Difference Between Opera And Musical Theatre

When imagining opera one cannot help but picture the iconic pigtailed woman wearing the horned helmet and holding a spear. This image certainly is an element of opera (Bloom) yet the discipline holds much more. Since its origins in sixteenth century Italy (Parker) opera has been fundamental to the performing arts. By understanding its rich history as well as its contemporary trends arts administrators may continue to present this beloved art form to their audiences. The word opera, in its modern sense as a â€Å"composition in which poetry, dance, and music are combined†, was first used in 1639. Shortly following was the earliest documented English usage in 1648 (â€Å"Opera†). What is the major difference between opera and musical theatre? A famous composer named Stephen Sondheim has said that It s about the expectation of the audience. When it s on Broadway, people expect mediocre singing and good acting; when it s in an opera house, people expect mediocre acting and good singing† (qtd. In Leigh) The first composition called an opera was Dafne by Jacopo Peri and it was created around 1597. The composer was inspirited by Florentine humanists who were elite at that time. It is noteworthy that Dafne was trying to recreate the Greek drama, which is kind of recreating the characteristic of the Renaissance in a broader view (Parker). There are four main periods of opera history. In the Baroque period (1590-1750), there were two dominated composers named Jacopo Peri and ClaudioShow MoreRelatedEvolution of Opera: Greek Drama to Baroque Opera Essays870 Words   |  4 Pagesdefines opera in his text, A Short History of Opera, as â€Å"a drama in music: a dramatic action, exhibited on stage with scenery by actors in costume, the words conveyed entirely or for the most part by singing, and the whole sustained and amplified by orchestral music† (4). A literal translation of the word opera is simply work, and although the term opera was not coined until 1634, one of the first known operas was performed in 1597 (Grout 1). Grout explains that there are two types of opera. The firstRead MoreEssay on History of Broadway2227 Words   |  9 Pageson whether or not Broadway musicals are considered â€Å"serious† art forms. People feel that a musical can never be taken seriously if the character is always singin g sporadically, which is very unusual in real life. 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