Opera and its Italian origins
The Italian word opera means “work”, both in the sense of the opera labour done and the result produced. The Italian word derives from the Latin word, a singular noun meaning “work” and also the plural of the noun opus.
The first opera can be traced back to Italy at the start of the 17th century. Its roots lay in several sources, including a fascination with what Ancient Greek drama may have looked and sounded like. From already existing theatrical entertainments, such as the intermedi that punctuated spoken drama with song, dance and instrumental music.
The first Opera
Dafne by Jacopo Peri was the earliest composition considered opera, as understood today. It was written around 1597, largely under the inspiration of an elite circle of literate Florentine humanists who gathered as the “Camerata de’ Bardi”. Significantly, Dafne was an attempt to revive the classical Greek drama, part of the wider revival of antiquity characteristic of the Renaissance. A later work by Peri, Euridice, dating from 1600, is the first opera score to have survived until the present day. Opera’s first composer of genius however, was Claudio Monteverdi. He was born in Cremona in 1567. He wrote Orfeo in 1607 for an exclusive audience at the Duke of Mantua’s court. The story was mostly delivered in the innovative style known as “recitar cantando” or speech in song.
Thirty years after Orfeo, the first public opera house opened in Venice bringing opera to a much wider audience.
The best opera in Rome
So what, you can’t visit Italy without seeing a performance of Opera.
The organization “Opera lirica Roma” celebrates the great Opera arias and the most famous classical music pieces composed by the greatest Italian composers: Verdi, Rossini, Puccini, Vivaldi, Leoncavallo, Mascagni. Enjoy the world-renowned Neapolitan songs.
The concerts take place in the magnificent theatre of palazzo santa chiara, situated inside a historical building in the centre of Rome, only 100 meters walk from the Pantheon.
The program is presented by a string quartet which accompanies tenor and soprano soloists. The duration of our opera is about 60 minutes. Our Concerts in Rome start on April 1st, with three wonderful performances: Tosca, La traviata e Le quattro stagioni. You can purchase your tickets now!
Of course, all kinds of venues can be found throughout Rome where operas or opera arias are performed. However, one must distinguish between high-quality venues (for discerning music lovers) and those that cater to a tourist audience. Our theater guarantees superb quality. If you want to experience the timeless magic of opera during your stay in Rome, visit us.