The origin of opera dates back to the end of the 16th Century and is centred around Florence, Italy. Soon, it spread to the rest of Europe, notably in Germany, France and England. But Italy continued to be a dominant centre for opera even in the 18th Century and its influence in the world of opera is quite steady even today. So it is no surprise that operas in Rome are extremely popular, with thousands flocking to the shows every year.
Opera is an important part of the Western classical music tradition, which also has a huge presence in Italy. There are many genres in opera, such as Singspiel, that includes spoken word, and Opéra comique, but traditionally, operas have two styles of singing — recitative, or ones that have speech-like elements, and arias, which are self-contained pieces for one voice.
Over the years, Rome has hosted many traditional operas as well as those with newer interpretations and experimental work. Although operas started out as entertainment for the rich, elite and the noble, now it has become much easier to access for everyone. So if you’re in town, make sure you catch one of the operas in Rome for a wholesome, memorable experience.
