It is known under the name of 'opera' to the dramatic artistic genre in which a theatrical representation is carried out through music and sung songs. In opera, the artists play the role of both actors and singers as they act out the established script and perform the songs, which are usually lyrical, in a combined way. Dance scenes can also be included which adds as another skill for these artists. Finally, another of the basic characteristics of the opera is the presence of an orchestra that plays live the musical compositions corresponding to the work.
It is believed that the first versions of what we know today as opera took place during the 16th century in the city of Florence, Italy, perhaps one of the most important cultural centers of the time. As the centuries passed until the present, the opera developed elements that would later become essential and that are maintained in some cases until today. Among the most important opera composers we must mention Jacopo Peri (perhaps the first opera composer in history), Claudio Monteverdi, George Handel, Antonio Vivaldi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (the greatest composer of all time), Richard Wagner and many others.
The complexity of the opera is related to the fact that it is one of the few artistic representations that combines so many areas, including music, literature (poetry and lyric), acting, dance, scenography, the plastic arts , lighting, costumes and makeup.
While opera librettos can be original or taken from existing literary works, they can be recitative or arias (that is, sung). Opera can combine the performance, dance, and singing of one, two, or more characters. On the other hand, the presence of the choir is always central since it is in charge of telling the public what is happening and providing an objective view of the events.
