The most outstanding OPERA composers

For many centuries, theater has been a prominent part of the music sceneAfter all, it is a genre that fuses diverse highly expressive elements. Over time the themes may have changed, however it is a fact that they did not stop entertaining and impact the public with works that moved thanks to the skill of its composers to represent the plot of the lifetime. In this lesson from a TEACHER we will talk about the main opera composers so you can have a reference of what to listen to of this classic genre.

The opera is the theatrical genre of the classical music, with its origin in Italy during the 15th century, that's precisely where the term "opera" comes from, which means "musical piece". The genre developed throughout Europe during the years of the classical music era.

The opera, unlike the rest of the classical works, incorporates a "libretto", which is a story with plot and plot where the characters are played by singers / actors they are accompanied by an instrumental group, usually an orchestra. The operas were (and continue to be) a social event in which the public comes with expectations of witnessing a work of high musical and interpretive quality.

From the opera, subgenres have arisen by culture or geography, which is the case of the Spanish zarzuela, the German singspiel, the Viennese operetta and the French comic opera, among others.

For many, opera is the pinnacle of art performed live since combine many arts for its realization, which include music, poetry, the performing arts (acting, ballet and dance), the arts scenographic (painting, plastic arts, decoration, architecture), lighting, special effects and skills such as makeup and design wardrobe.

Due to the popularity of the genre in its time, opera composers are numerous, so in this article we will mention only a few of the outstanding ones.

Claudio Moteverdi (1567 - 1643, Italy)

She is recognized as the first great opera composer. It is to him that the first opera in history that is still presented is awarded: Orfeo, favola in musica. His role was crucial in the distribution and commercial success of the genre.

Notable operas: L’incoronazione di Poppeaa, The Fable of Orpheus, The return of Ulysses to the homeland.

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632 - 1687, France)

He is considered the founder of the tradition of "Tragédie en musique" (tragedy in music) that combines singing with dance and visual spectacle. This genre is recognized as the most prestigious in the French tradition.

Notable operas: Cadmus et Hermione.

Alessandro Scarlatti (1660 - 1725, Italy)

He was in charge of the development of the subgenre of the "Serious opera", which in contrast to opera bufa (opera of a comic and satirical nature) is based on maintaining the conventions of drama and elegance. Scarlatti is said to have claimed at one point to have composed more than 100 operas.

Notable operas:Griselda.

Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1878, Austria)

He is credited with transitioning the characteristics of opera from the Baroque to the Classical period, later serving as an influence for great composers such as Mozart. Within his intentions was to reform the conventions of serious opera to focus on simplicity as a factor of beauty.

Notable operas: Orpheus ed Euridice.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791, Austria)

Mozart is another of the most prominent opera composers. He focused on creating works that were highly popular within the comic genre. Even today, several of his works remain high in popularity and are part of the inevitable repertoire.

Notable operas:The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute.

Carl Maria bon Weber (1786 - 1826, Germany)

He is considered the founder of opera in German romanticism, which rivaled the popularity of the Italian genre of the "Bel canto" (a style of operatic singing). He is recognized for the beauty of his orchestral atmospheres. Weber did not have multiple operatic successes but he does recognize his influence on future great composers such as Wagner.

Notable operas: Der Freischütz.

Richard Wagner (1813-1883, Germany)

Wagner is considered a revolutionary of opera thanks to the bridging of the gap between the traditions of the "Recitative" and the "aria" (forms of song). Creating a new style of opera that he called "Musical dramas".

Notable operas:Tristan and Isolde, Parsifal, The Ring of the Nibelung.

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901, Italy)

Verdi was a prolific composer during romanticism who excelled in many genres, especially operatic. Thanks to the constant evolution of his work, many consider that Verdi broke ground as a bridge between the styles of "bel canto" and "verismo" (themes of daily life in the social class short).

Notable operas: Rigoletto, La traviata, Aida and Otellon

Georges Bizet (1838 - 1875, France)

Despite his premature death, he achieved great successes, especially in the operatic genre. His work Carmen it is perhaps one of the most popular operas even centuries later, now today. Notable operas: Carmen.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893, Russia)

Tchaikovsky is more popularly recognized for other types of musical genres such as symphony and ballet. However, some of his operas are appreciated for their recognition of the Russian musical style.

Notable operas:Eugenio Onequin, The Queen of Spades.

Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924, Italian)

Many consider him the only true successor to Italian opera after Giuseppe Verdi. Puccini is another of those composers whose works we can frequently enjoy in current repertoires. Without a doubt, he is one of the best opera composers of all time.

Notable operas:La Bohème, Madama Butterfly.

Dimitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975, Russia)

Shostakovich stood out for controversy thanks to his most popular opera "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk", due to the violence that the plot involved. Despite a revised and less controversial version, the original work took off as a representative work of the 20th century.

Notable operas: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.

Now that you know a little more about these great opera composers, We recommend that you take your time to enjoy listening to the wonderful works of these characters who gave us a great artistic heritage that lasts through the centuries.