| The literal or etymological meaning of the word | | | | of these find their root in the "opera buffo". |
| 'opera' in Italian is 'work' (from its plural 'opus' | | | | In 1800, the opera was still dominated by the |
| meaning 'labor' or 'work'). If we wish to inquire | | | | Italians and we see that the storylines were |
| about the origin of opera, we will only learn that it | | | | based on tragedy and the conflicts between |
| had no particular source, it has rather evolved | | | | tyranny and oppression. In 1900, opera came to |
| with time. Initially it was performed in courts, and | | | | be dominated by the Germans and became |
| later moved on to public performances. The | | | | nationalistic and often based on legend and |
| country where it first originated was of course | | | | folklore. Till date, opera remains an outstandingly |
| Italy, as the literal meaning suggests. The first | | | | popular form of music which is enjoyed world |
| accepted composition of the opera is "Daphne'. It | | | | over. From merely the European Continent, it has |
| was said to be the first performance of the | | | | evolved to become a world heritage when it |
| opera composition in 1598 during a carnival at the | | | | comes to music. This is evident by the large |
| home of Jacopo Corsi, in the beautiful city of | | | | number of Opera Houses all over the world; the |
| Florence, Italy. Italy was a great music talent and | | | | largest one being in the New York City and |
| enjoyed great music in its music carnivals, canti | | | | second to it in Chicago; both being Non-European. |
| camascialeschi. The time period from 1500-1700 | | | | The Opera House in Sydney is also very popular. |
| AD is considered as the one propounding the | | | | With time, Opera has served the taste of all |
| earliest influences of this Italian Music on the | | | | music lovers and has also commercialized the use |
| European Continent; this period is known as | | | | of "Opera Glasses" also known as Theatre |
| "Baroque". | | | | Binoculars. These are designed according to the |
| After the Baroque Period, the opera split into two | | | | Galileo design of the binoculars with hardly any |
| - opera seria (serious opera) and opera buffo | | | | change in design at present. The most feasible |
| (comedic opera). The former was dominated by | | | | magnification power of these is considered to be |
| Germans. It took excerpts from myth and | | | | 3X. These have also evolved from once being |
| history; while the latter took the lives of ordinary | | | | considered as a cheap means of watching the |
| men and exemplified their stories of love, | | | | opera by the middle or lower classes who did not |
| revenge, deceit, etc. another form of opera which | | | | have the capacity to purchase front row tickets; |
| dimmed the Italian opera for a while was the | | | | to now being a very trendy affair and a style |
| "Ballad Opera"; it was inspired by the Old Ballads | | | | statement for going to the opera. Extremely |
| and got immediate popularity in London. Another | | | | exquisite, extravagant and intricate designs are |
| form of Opera called the "Singspiel Opera" | | | | available in these with added new features of dim |
| combined songs with spoken dialogues and was | | | | lights, lorgnettes, handles, chains etc. They are |
| popularized by the Germans; similarly French | | | | now recognized as fashion accessories and a |
| Comique was popularized by the French; and both | | | | must have for an opera-goer. |