The United Nations added Italian opera singing to its list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2023.
This recognition highlights the profound cultural significance and enduring legacy of this four-century-old art all around the world.
Let’s discover the history of opera singing!
From prehistory to the Baroque era
The human voice was the first musical instrument, emerging in prehistory as an imitation of natural sounds. Over time, it evolved into a sophisticated form of art, expression, and communication.
The ancient Greeks laid the groundwork for structured vocal art forms. They incorporated singing with poetry, acting, and music with instruments like the lyre. That’s why opera is known as “musica lirica” in Italian.
During the Middle Ages, Gregorian chant became a predominant form of vocal music, characterised by monophonic, unaccompanied sacred songs.
The Renaissance saw the flourishing of polyphonic music, where multiple independent vocal lines were sung simultaneously, enriching the complexity of performances.
The Baroque era introduced ornate and expressive singing styles, which played a crucial role in the development of opera.
The birth and rise of Italian opera
Italian opera emerged in the late 1500s and early 1600s in Florence, particularly at the court of the Medici family. This new art form typically involved intricate plots, elaborate staging, and virtuosic singing.
Claudio Monteverdi, who lived from 1567 to 1643, is considered the first great opera composer. He brought emotional depth and complexity to the genre with works like “L’Orfeo” (1607) and “L’incoronazione di Poppea” (1643), setting a high standard for future composers.
Much credit also goes to the Florentine Camerata, a group of humanists and intellectuals who gathered under the patronage of Count Giovanni de’ Bardi to guide trends in the arts. They aimed to revive ancient Greece’s theatrical traditions, creating early operas like Jacopo Peri’s “Dafne” in 1597 and “Euridice” in 1600.
The 17th century marked the rise of opera in Venice, where the world’s first public opera house – Teatro San Cassiano – was established. This democratised the art form, making it accessible beyond the aristocracy.
By the 18th century, opera had evolved significantly, characterised by the emergence of opera seria (serious opera) and opera buffa (comic opera). Composers like Alessandro Scarlatti and Gioachino Rossini played crucial roles in refining these styles. Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” remains one of the most popular operas to this day.
The 19th century witnessed the golden age of Italian opera, dominated by Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. Verdi’s masterpieces, such as “Rigoletto,” “La Traviata,” and “Aida,” combined powerful music with compelling narratives. Puccini, known for his dramatic intensity, produced timeless works like “La Bohème,” “Tosca,” and “Madama Butterfly.”
Italian opera today: theatres, events, and singers
Today, Italy boasts around 60 opera houses – the most in any country!
Among the most famous are La Scala Theatre in Milan, La Fenice in Venice, Teatro Verdi in Florence and Teatro dell’Opera in Rome. Discover more Italian theatres and their history here.
Italy also hosts numerous important opera events, drawing enthusiasts from around the globe.
One of the most notable is the Verona Opera Festival, held every summer in the ancient Roman amphitheatre, the Arena di Verona.
Other examples include the Verdi Festival, held south of Parma in October; the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro in August; the Puccini Festival near Viareggio in July and August.
You can discover more Opera Festivals in Italy here.
Opera singing is not a thing of the past. Renowned singers such as Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, and Il Volo have become major stars in the 20th and 21st centuries.
From its origins in Florence to its recognition by UNESCO, opera singing continues to captivate and inspire audiences worldwide!
Opera singing lessons in Florence
If you are a singer or just want to start singing opera for the first time, Studiainitalia offers an exceptional course in Florence.
Here, you can immerse yourself in the rich tradition of opera and learn from experienced instructors.
Discover your potential and refine your technique in the birthplace of opera: learn more about the opera singing course in Florence.
Cover photo by WikimediaImages on Pixabay
