Opera: A History

achieved action admired aria artistic audience ballet became become called castrato century characters chorus comedy comic completed composer composer's court created critic dances death drama early effective elements English ensembles example expression feeling figure final four French German give given human important influence interest Italian Italian opera Italy kind King later least less libretto lively Lohengrin London lyrical major melody Milan moved Mozart musicians Naples nature never once opening opera orchestra original Paris performance perhaps period Peter Grimes piece play plot popular present production recitative remained role Rossini scene score seems shows singers singing songs soprano stage story Strauss style success suggested tells tenor theatre theme tradition turn Venice vocal voice Wagner writing written wrote young