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[[Image:Metropolitan-Opera.jpg|right]]

[[Image:Metropolitan-Opera.jpg|right]]

Dafne]] (1598) by [[Jacopo Peri]] is commonly regarded as the first opera, but the first great composer of the new art form was [[Claudio Monteverdi]] (1567–1643), whose works are still performed today. Opera soon spread from Venice and Rome throughout Italy and the rest Europe: [[Schütz]] in Germany, [[Lully]] in France, and [[Purcell]] in England all helped to establish their national traditions. However, in the 18th century, Italian opera continued to dominate most of Europe, except France, attracting foreign composers such as [[Handel]]. [[Opera seria]] was the most prestigious form of Italian opera, until [[Gluck]] reacted against its artificiality with his "reform" operas. The most influential figure of late 18th century opera was [[Mozart]], who began with opera seria but is most famous for his Italian comic operas and his [[The Magic Flute]], a landmark in the German tradition.

[[Dafne]] (1598) by [[Jacopo Peri]] is commonly regarded as the first opera, but the first great composer of the new art form was [[Claudio Monteverdi]] (1567–1643), whose works are still performed today. Opera soon spread from Venice and Rome throughout Italy and the rest Europe: [[Schütz]] in Germany, [[Lully]] in France, and [[Purcell]] in England all helped to establish their national traditions. However, in the 18th century, Italian opera continued to dominate most of Europe, except France, attracting foreign composers such as [[Handel]]. [[Opera seria]] was the most prestigious form of Italian opera, until [[Gluck]] reacted against its artificiality with his "reform" operas. The most influential figure of late 18th century opera was [[Mozart]], who began with opera seria but is most famous for his Italian comic operas and his [[The Magic Flute]], a landmark in the German tradition.

The first third of the 19th century saw the highpoint of the [[bel canto]] style, with [[Rossini]], [[Donizetti]] and [[Bellini]] all creating works that are still performed today. The mid to late 19th century is considered a golden age of opera, led by Wagner in Germany and Verdi in Italy. The golden age continued through the [[verismo]] era in Italy and contemporary French opera through to [[Puccini]] and [[Strauss]] in the early 20th century. At the same time, new operatic traditions emerged in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia and Bohemia. The 20th century saw many experiments with modern styles, such as [[atonality]] and [[serialism]] ([[Schoenberg]] and [[Berg]]), Neo-Classicism ([[Stravinsky]]), and [[Minimalism]] ([[Philip Glass]] and [[John Adams]]). With the rise of recording technology, singers such as [[Enrico Caruso]] became known to audiences beyond the circle of opera fans. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera]

The first third of the 19th century saw the highpoint of the [[bel canto]] style, with [[Rossini]], [[Donizetti]] and [[Bellini]] all creating works that are still performed today. The mid to late 19th century is considered a golden age of opera, led by Wagner in Germany and Verdi in Italy. The golden age continued through the [[verismo]] era in Italy and contemporary French opera through to [[Puccini]] and [[Strauss]] in the early 20th century. At the same time, new operatic traditions emerged in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia and Bohemia. The 20th century saw many experiments with modern styles, such as [[atonality]] and [[serialism]] ([[Schoenberg]] and [[Berg]]), Neo-Classicism ([[Stravinsky]]), and [[Minimalism]] ([[Philip Glass]] and [[John Adams]]). With the rise of recording technology, singers such as [[Enrico Caruso]] became known to audiences beyond the circle of opera fans. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera]