Famous Operas


Famous Operas All Time List 🎭

Opera, as works of art, rather than musical theatre, first appeared in Italy in the late 1590s and spread rapidly across Europe and the wider world. What are the most famous operas? La bohème, by Puccini and La traviata, by Verdi typically feature in most famous Opera lists.

  • ADDucation’s list of famous operas list was last updated 18 Aug 2024.

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Opera Composer Born Birthplace Nationality Died Where Died Classical Era Famous Operas (Year first performed) 🎭
Beethoven, Ludwig van 17 Dec 1770 Bonn, Germany. German 26 Mar 1827 Vienna, Austria Classical Fidelio (1814)
Bellini, Vincenzo 3 Nov 1801 Sicily, Italy. Italian 23 Sep 1835 Paris, France Romantic
  • Adelson e Salvini (Feb 1835, Naples)
  • La sonnambula “The Sleepwalker” (6 Mar 1831, Teatro Carcano, Milan).
  • I puritani “The Puritans” (24 Jan 1835, Paris, Théâtre-Italien).
Berg, Alban 9 Feb 1885 Vienna, Austria. Austrian 24 Dec 1935 Vienna, Austria
  • Wozzeck (14 Dec 1925, Berlin State Opera).
  • Lulu (2 Jun 1937, Zurich Opera).
Bizet, Georges 25 Oct 1838 Paris, France. French 3 Jun 1875 Bougival, Paris, France Romantic
  • The Pearl Fishers (1863).
  • Djamileh (1872).
  • Carmen (1875).
Britten, Benjamin 22 Nov 1913 Lowestoft, England. English 4 Dec 1976 Aldeburgh, England Modernist
  • Paul Bunyan (5 May 1941, Columbia University, New York).
  • Peter Grimes (7 June 1945, Sadler’s Wells, London).
  • The Rape of Lucretia (12 July 1946, Glyndebourne Festival Opera).
  • Albert Herring (20 June 1947, Glyndebourne Festival Opera).
  • The Little Sweep (14 June 1949, Aldeburgh Festival, Suffolk).
  • Billy Budd (1 Dec 1951, Royal Opera House, London).
  • Gloriana (June 1953, Royal Opera House, London).
  • The Turn of the Screw (14 Sep 1954, Teatro La Fenice, Venice).
  • Noye’s Fludde (18 June 1958, Aldeburgh Festival, Suffolk).
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream (11 June 1960, Aldeburgh Festival, Suffolk).
  • Owen Wingrave (16 May 1971, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh).
  • Death in Venice (16 June 1973, Aldeburgh Festival, Suffolk).
Debussy, Claude 22 Aug 1862 Saint-Germain, France. French 26 Mar 1918 Paris, France Modernist Pelléas et Mélisande (30 April 1902).
Delibes, Léo 21 Feb 1836 Saint-Germain-du-Val, France. French 16 Jan 1891 Paris, France Romantic
  • Deux sous de charbon ou Le suicide de Bigorneau (9 Feb 1856, Folies-Nouvelles, Paris).
  • Deux vieilles gardes (8 Aug 1856, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris).
  • Six demoiselles à marier (12 Nov 1856, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris).
  • Maître Griffard (3 Oct 1857, Théâtre Lyrique, Paris).
  • L’omelette à la Follembuche (8 June 1859, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris).
  • Monsieur de Bonne-Étoile (4 Feb 1860, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris).
  • Les musiciens de l’orchestre (25 Jan 1861, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris).
  • Les eaux d’Ems (1862, Kursaal, Bad Ems).
  • Mon ami Pierrot (July 1862, Kursaal, Bad Ems).
  • Le jardinier et son seigneur (1 May 1863, Théâtre Lyrique, Paris).
  • Le tradition (5 Jan 1864, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris).
  • Le serpent à plumes (16 Dec 1864, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris).
  • Le boeuf Apis (15 Apr 1865, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris).
  • Malbrough s’en va-t-en guerre Act 4 only (13 Dec 1867, Théâtre de l’Athénée, Paris).
  • L’écossais de Chatou (16 Jan 1869, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris).
  • La cour du roi Pétaud (24 Apr 1869, Théâtre des Variétés, Paris).
  • Le roi l’a dit (24 May 1873, Opéra-Comique, Paris).
  • Jean de Nivelle (8 Mar 1880, Opéra-Comique, Paris).
  • Lakmé (14 Apr 1883, Opéra-Comique, Paris).
Donizetti, Gaetano 29 Nov 1797 Bergamo, Italy. Italian 8 Apr 1848 Bergamo, Italy Romantic ADDucation’s Top 12 Gaetano Donizetti famous operas (from over 70):
  • Imelda de’ Lambertazzi (5 Sep 1830, Teatro di San Carlo, Naples).
  • Anna Bolena (26 Dec 1830, Teatro Carcano, Milan).
  • L’elisir d’amore “The Elixir of Love” (12 May 1832 Teatro alla Canobbiana, Milan).
  • Lucrezia Borgia (26 Dec 1833, La Scala, Milan).
  • Rosmonda d’Inghilterra (27 Feb 1834, Teatro della Pergola, Florence).
  • Maria Stuarda (30 Dec 1835, La Scala, Milan).
  • Lucia di Lammermoor (26 Sep 1835, Teatro di San Carlo, Naples).
  • Roberto Devereux (28 Oct 1837, Teatro di San Carlo, Naples).
  • Poliuto (1838, Teatro di San Carlo, Naples).
  • La fille du régiment “Daughter of the Regiment” (11 Feb 1840, Opéra-Comique, Paris).
  • Linda di Chamounix (19 May 1842, Kärntnertortheater, Vienna).
  • Don Pasquale (3 Jan 1843, Théâtre-Italien, Paris).
Dvořák, Antonin 8 Sep 1841 Nelahozeves, near Prague, Czech Republic. Czech 1 May 1904 Prague, Czech Republic. Romantic
  • Alfred (1870).
  • The Stubborn Lovers (1874).
  • Vanda (1875).
  • Dimitrij (1881).
  • The Jacobin (1888).
  • Rusalka (1901).
  • Armida (1903).
Egk, Werner 17 May 1901 Auchsesheim, Donauwörth, Germany. German 10 Jul 1983 Inning, Germany Modernist
  • Die Zaubergeige (1935).
  • Der Revisor (1957).
  • 17 Tage und 4 Minuten (1966).
Gershwin, George 26 Sep 1898 New York City, USA American 11 Jul 1937 Hollywood, California, USA Postmodernist Porgy und Bess (1935).
Gluck, Christoph Willibald 2 Jul 1714 Erasbach, Bavaria Germany. German 15 Nov 1787 Vienna, Austria Classical ADDucation’s Top 10 Christoph Willibald Gluck famous operas:
  • Ezio (1750, Prague).
  • Le cinesi (24 Sept 1754, Schloss Hof, Vienna).
  • L’ivrogne corrigé ou le mariage du diable (Apr 1760    Vienna, Burgtheater, Vienna).
  • La rencontre imprévue (7 Jan 1764, Burgtheater, Vienna).
  • Telemaco, ossia L’isola di Circe (30 Jan 1765, Burgtheater, Vienna).
  • Alceste (26 Dec 1767, Burgtheater, Vienna).
  • Iphigénie en Aulide (19 April 1774, Palais-Royal, Paris).
  • Orphée et Eurydice “Orpheus and Eurydice” (2 Aug 1774, Palais-Royal, Paris).
  • Armide (Armide 23 Sep 1777, Palais-Royal, Paris).
  • Iphigénie en Tauride (18 May 1779, Palais-Royal, Paris).
Gounod, Charles 17 Jun 1818 Paris, France French 17/18 Oct 1893 Saint-Claud, France Romantic
  • Sapho (16 April 1851, Salle Le Peletier, Paris Opera).
  • La nonne sanglante (Oct 1854, Salle Le Peletier, Paris Opera).
  • Le médecin malgré lui (15 Jan 1858, Théâtre Lyrique, Paris).
  • Faust (19 Mar 1859, Théâtre Lyrique, Paris).
  • Philémon et Baucis (18 February 1860, Théâtre Lyrique, Paris).
  • La colombe (3 Aug 1860, Baden-Baden, Germany).
  • La reine de Saba “Queen of Sheba” (28 Feb 1862, Salle Le Peletier, Paris).
  • Mireille (19 Mar 1864, Théâtre Lyrique, Paris).
  • Roméo et Juliette (27 Apr 1867, Théâtre Lyrique, Paris).
  • Cinq-Mars (5 Apr 1877 Opéra-Comique, Paris).
  • Polyeucte (7 Oct 1878, Palais Garnier, Paris).
  • Le tribut de Zamora (1 Apr 1881, Palais Garnier, Paris).
Handel, George Frideric 23 Feb 1685 Halle, Germany German / English 14 Apr 1759 London, England Baroque
  • Agrippina (1709).
  • Julius Caesar (1724).
  • Rodelinda (1725).
  • Xerxes (1738).
Haydn, Joseph 31 Mar 1732 Rohrau, Austria. Austria 31 May 1809 Vienna, Austria Classical
  • Der krumme Teufel (c1751).
  • La canterina “The Songstress” (1766).
  • Lo speziale “The Apothecary” (1768).
  • Le pescatrici “The Fishwives” (1770).
  • L’infedeltà delusa “Deceit Outwitted” (1773).
  • Philemon und Baucis (1773).
  • L’incontro improvviso “The Unexpected Encounter” (1775).
  • Il mondo della luna “The World on the Moon” (1777).
  • La vera costanza “True Constancy” (1779).
  • L’isola disabitata “The Deserted Island” (1779).
  • La fedeltà premiata “Fidelity Rewarded” (1781).
  • Orlando paladino “The Paladin Orlando” (1782).
  • Armida (1784).
Hindemith, Paul 16 Nov 1895 Hanau, Germany. German 28 Dec 1963 Frankfurt, Germany Neoclassical
  • Cardillac (1926).
  • Neues vom Tage (1929).
  • Mathis der Maler (1938).
Humperdinck, Engelbert 1 Sep 1854 Siegburg, Germany. German 27 Sep 1921 Neustrelitz, Germany ??
  • Hansel and Gretel (1893).
  • Königskinder (1897).
  • Die Heirat wider Willen “The Reluctant Marriage” (1905).
Lehar, Franz 30 Apr 1870 Komárom, Hungary. Hungarian 14 Oct 1948 Bad Ischl, Austria Romantic
  • Der Kürassier, not completed (1892).
  • Rodrigo, completed but not performed (1893).
  • Kukuschka (27 Nov 1896).
  • Tatjana, a revised version of Kukuschka (10 February 1905).
Leoncavallo, Ruggero 8 Mar 1858 Naples, Italy. Italian 9 Sep 1919 Monte-Catini Terme Romantic
  • Der Bajazzo (1892).
  • Zazà (1900).
  • Der Roland von Berlin (1904).
Lortzing, Albert 23 Oct 1801 Berlin, Germany. German 21 Jan 1851 Berlin, Germany Romantic
  • Ali Pascha von Jannina (1 Feb 1828, Stadttheater, Münster).
  • Der Wildschütz (31 Dec 1842, Leipzig, Germany).
  • Czar and Zimmermann (22 Dec 1837, Leipzig, Germany).
  • Der Pole und sein Kind (11 Oct 1832, Osnabrück, Germany).
  • Undine (21 Apr 1845, Magdeburg).
Mascagni, Pietro 7 Dec 1863 Livorno, Italy. Italian 2 Aug 1945 Rome, Italy Romantic ADDucation’s Top 11 Pietro Mascagni famous operas:
  • Cavalleria rusticana (17 May 1890, Teatro Costanzi, Rome).
  • L’amico Fritz (31 Oct 1891, Teatro Costanzi, Rome).
  • I Rantzau (10 Nov 1892, Teatro La Pergola, Florence).
  • Guglielmo Ratcliff (16 Feb 1895, Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
  • Silvano (25 Mar 1895, Teatro alla Scala, Milan).
  • Zanetto (2 Mar 1896, Liceo Musicale, Pesaro).
  • Iris (22 Nov 1898, Teatro Costanzi, Rome).
  • Le maschere (17 Jan 1901, La Scala, Milan + 5 other Italian Opera houses).
  • Amica (16 Mar 1905, Monte Carlo).
  • Il piccolo Marat (2 May 1921, Teatro Costanzi, Rome).
  • Pinotta (23 Mar 1932, Casinò, San Remo).
Massenet, Jules 12 May 1842 Montaud, France. French 13 Aug 1912 Paris, France Romantic ADDucation’s Top 8 Jules Massenet famous operas:
  • Hérodiade (19 Dec 1881, Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels).
  • Manon (19 Jan 1884, Opéra-Comique, Paris).
  • Le Cid (30 Nov 1885, Paris Opéra).
  • Esclarmonde (15 May 1889, Théâtre Lyrique, Paris).
  • Werther (16 Feb 1892, Hofoper, Vienna).
  • La Navarraise (20 Jun 1894, Covent Garden, London).
  • Ariane (31 Oct 1906, Palais Garnier, Paris).
  • Roma (17 Feb 1912, Opéra de Monte Carlo).
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus 27 Jan 1756 Salzburg, Austria. Austrian 5 Dec 1791 Vienna, Austria Classical
  • Idomeneo “King of Crete” (1781).
  • The Abduction from the Seraglio (1782).
  • The Marriage of Figaro (1786).
  • Don Giovanni (1787) one of the most famous operas.
  • Cosi fan tutte “Women are like that” (1790)
  • The Magic Flute (1791).
Mussorgsky, Modest 21 Mar 1839 Karewo,
Russia.		 Russian 28 Mar 1881 St. Petersburg, Russia Romantic
  • Boris Godunow (27 Jan 1874, Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg).
  • Khovanshchina, completed by Rimsky-Korsakov (1886, St. Petersburg).
    In 1959 Khovanshchina was revised by Dmitri Shostakovich
Offenbach, Jacques 20 Jun 1819 Köln, Germany. German / French 5 Oct 1880 Paris, France Romantic ADDucation’s Top 10 Jacques Offenbach famous operas (from over 100):
  • Orphée aux enfers “Orpheus in the Underworld” (21 Oct 1858, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris).
  • Geneviève de Brabant (19 Nov 1859, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris).
  • Die Rheinnixen (4 Feb 1864, Hoftheater, Vienna).
  • La belle Hélène (17 Dec 1864, Théâtre des Variétés, Paris).
  • Barbe-bleue (5 Feb 1866, Théâtre des Variétés, Paris).
  • La Vie parisienne (31 October 1866 Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris).
  • La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein “The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein” (12 Apr 1867, Théâtre des Variétés, Paris).
  • La Périchole (6 Oct 1868, Théâtre des Variétés, Paris).
  • Les brigands (10 Dec 1869, Théâtre des Variétés, Paris).
  • The Tales of Hoffmann (10 Feb 1881, Opéra-Comique, Paris).
Orff, Carl 10 Jul 1895 Munich, Germany. German 29 Mar 1982 Munich, Germany Modern
  • The Moon (1939).
  • The Wise (1943).
  • Prometheus (1968).
Pfitzner, Hans 5 May 1869 Moscow, Russia. German 22 May 1949 Salzburg, Austria Romantic
  • Der arme Heinrich (1895, Mainz).
  • Die Rose vom Liebesgarten (1901, Elberfeld).
  • Das Christ-Elflein v1 (1906, Munich).
  • Das Christ-Elflein v2 (1917, Dresden).
  • Palestrina (1917, Munich).
  • Das Herz (1930, Berlin and Munich).
Prokofiev, Sergei 23 Apr 1891 Sontsovka, Ukraine. Russian 5 Mar 1953 Moscow, Russia Modernist
  • The Love for Three Oranges (1921).
  • The Gambler (1929).
  • The Story of a Real Man (1948).
Puccini, Giacomo 22 Dec 1858 Lucca, Italy Italian 29 Nov 1924 Brussels, Belgium Romantic
  • Edgar (1889).
  • Manon Lescaut (1 Feb 1893, Teatro Regio, Turin).
  • La Bohème (1 Feb 1896, Teatro Regio, Turin).
  • Tosca (14 Jan 1900, Teatro Costanzi, Rome).
  • Madam Butterfly (17 Feb 1904, La Scala, Milan).
  • The Girl of the Golden West (1910).
  • The Triptych, partly with Gianni Schicchi (1918).
  • Turandot (25 April 1926, Teatro alla Scala, Milan).
Rachmaninoff, Sergei 4 Jan 1873 Staraya Russa, Russia. Russian 28 Mar 1943 Beverly Hills, USA Romantic
  • Aleko (1893, Moscow, Moscow Conservatory).
  • The Miserly Knight (24 Jan 1906, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow).
  • Francesca da Rimini (24 Jan 1906, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow).
Ravel, Maurice 3 Jul 1875 Ciboure, France. French 28 Dec 1937 Paris, France Modernist
  • L’heure espagnole “The Spanish Hour” (19 May 1911 Paris).
  • L’enfant et les sortilèges (1926 Paris).
Rossini, Gioachino 29 Feb 1792 Pesaro, Italy. Italian 13 Nov 1868 Passy, Paris, France Romantic
  • The Barber of Seville (1816) one of the most famous operas.
  • La Cenerentola (1817).
  • Moses in Egypt (1818).
  • Semiramide (1823).
  • William Tell (1829).
Saint-Saëns, Camille 9 Oct 1835 Paris, France. French 16 Dec 1921 Algiers,  Algeria Romantic Samson and Delilah (2 Dec 1877, Ducal Theatre, Weimar).
Schubert, Franz 31 Jan 1797 Austria, Vienna. Austrian 19 Nov 1828 Vienna, Austria Romantic Fierrabras (1897 Hoftheater Karlsruhe).
Schumann, Robert 8 Jun 1810 Zwickau, Germany. German 29 Jul 1856 Endenich/Bonn Germany. Romantic Genoveva (25 Jun 1850 Stadttheater, Leipzig).
Shostakovich, Dmitri 25 Sep 1906 St. Petersburg, Russia. Russian 9 Aug 1975 Moscow, Russia Modernist
  • The Nose (1930).
  • Katerina Ismailova “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk”(
  • 22 Jan 1934, Leningrad Maly Operny).
  • Moscow, Cheryomushki.
Smetana, Bedřich 2 Mar 1824 Litomysl, Bohemia, Czech Republic. Czech 05 Dec 1884 Prague, Czech Republic Romantic
  • The Bartered Bride (1866).
  • The Two Widows (1874).
  • The Kiss (1876).
  • The Secret (1878).
  • Libuse (1881).
  • The Devil’s Wall (1882).
Strauss II, Johann 25 Oct 1825 Ulrich,Vienna, Austria. Austrian 3 Jun 1899 Vienna, Austria Romantic Ritter Pázmán “Knight Pazman (1 Jan 1892, Hofoper in Vienna, only played 9 times).
Strauss, Richard 11 Jun 1864 Munich, Germany. German 8 Sep 1949 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany Modernist
  • Salome (1905), Elektra (1909).
  • Der Rosenkavalier (1911).
  • Ariadne auf Naxos (1912).
  • Intermezzo (1924).
  • Arabella (1933).
  • Daphne (1938).
Stravinsky, Igor 17 Jun 1882 Oranienbaum, St. Petersburg, Russia. Russian 6 Apr 1971 New York, USA Modernist
  • The Soldier’s Tale (1918).
  • Mavra (1922).
  • Oedipus Rex (1928).
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich 7 May 1840 Votkinsk, Vyatka Governorate, Russia. Russian 6 Nov 1893 St. Petersburg, Russia Romantic
  • Eugene Onegin (1879).
  • The Maid of Orleans (1881).
  • Mazepa (1884).
  • The Sorceress (1887).
  • The Queen of Spades (1890).
  • Iolanta (1892).
Verdi, Giuseppe 10 Oct 1813 Le Roncole, Parma, Italy. Italian 27 Jan 1901 Milan, Italy Romantic
  • Nabucco (9 Mar 1842, Teatro alla Scala, Milan).
  • Attila (1846).
  • Macbeth (1847).
  • Luisa Miller (1849).
  • Rigoletto (11 Mar 1851, Teatro La Fenice, Venice).
  • Il Trovatore (1853).
  • La Traviata (6 Mar 1853, Teatro La Fenice, Venice).
  • Ein Maskenball (1859).
  • Don Carlos (1867).
  • Aida (24 Dec 1871, Khedivial Opera House in Cairo, Egypt) one Verdi’s most famous operas.
  • Othello (1887).
  • Falstaff (1893).
Vivaldi, Antonio 3 Apr 1678 Venice, Italy. Italian 28 Jul 1741 Vienna, Austria Baroque ADDucation’s Top 14 Antonio Vivaldi famous operas (from over 50):
  • La Fida Ninfa (1719, Teatro Arciducale, Mantua).
  • Atenaide (29 Dec 1728, Teatro della Pergola, Florence).
  • Griselda (18 May 1735, Teatro San Samuele, Venice).
  • Orlando finto pazzo “Orlando, the Fake Madman” (Nov 1714, Teatro Sant’Angelo, Venice).
  • Orlando Furioso (Nov 1727, Teatro Sant’Angelo, Venice).
  • Tito Manlio (1719, Teatro Arciducale, Mantua).
  • L’Olimpiade (17 Feb 1734, Teatro Sant’Angelo, Venice).
  • La verità in cimento “Truth in Contentio” (1720 Carnival of Venice).
  • Bajazet / Il Tamerlano (1735, Verona, Italy).
  • Farnace (10 Feb 1727 Teatro Sant’Angelo, Venice).
  • Dorilla in Tempe (9 Nov 1726, , Teatro Sant’Angelo, Venice)
  • Ottone in Villa (May 1713 Teatro di Piazza, Vicenza).
  • Argippo (1722, Milan).
Wagner, Richard 22 May 1813 Leipzig, Germany. German 13 Feb 1883 Venice, Austria Romantic
  • The Flying Dutchman (2 Jan 1843, Königliches Hoftheater, Dresden).
  • Tannhäuser (19 Oct 1845, Königliches Hoftheater, Dresden).
  • Lohengrin (28 Aug 1850, Deutsches National theater Weimar).
  • Tristan and Isolde (10 Jun 1865) one of the most famous operas.
  • Parsifal (26 Jul 1882, Bayreuth Festspielhaus).
  • The Mastersingers of Nuremberg (1868).
  • Der Ring des Nibelungen, also known as the “Ring Cycle” in 4 parts:
    1. Das Rheingold “The Rhinegold (13 Aug 1876, Bayreuth Festival as a cycle.
      Also separately in 1869).
    2. Die Walküre “The Valkyrie” (14 Aug 1876, Bayreuth Festival as a cycle.
      Also separately in 1870).
    3. Siegfried (16 Aug 1876, Bayreuth Festival).
    4. Götterdämmerung “Twilight of the Gods” (17 Aug 1876, Bayreuth Festival).
Weber, Carl Maria von 18 Dec 1786 Eutin, Bishopric of Lübeck, Germany. German 5 Jun 1826 London, England Romantic
  • Silvana (1810).
  • Der Freischütz (1821).
  • Euryanthe (1823).
  • Oberon (1826).
Weill, Kurt 2 Mar 1900 Dessau, Germany. German / American 3 Apr 1950 New York City, USA Modernist
  • The Threepenny Opera (1928).
  • Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (1930).
Wolf, Hugo 13 Mar 1860 Windischgrätz, Duchy of Styria, Gradec, Slovenia. Austrian / Slovenian. 22 Feb 1903 Vienna, Austria Romantic Der Corregidor (7 Jun 1896, Nationaltheater Mannheim).

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Opera FAQs: What is an Opera?
What is an opera?
An opera is an art form consisting of a theatrical performance where a drama, set to music, is performed by singers. The music was composed by a composer and a librettist wrote the words. Operas are usually (but not always) a collaboration between the two roles.
Opera FAQs: What's an opera genre?
What’s an opera genre?
There are dozens of opera genres described in different languages (mostly Italian, German, French, English and Spanish) so an particular opera may belong in several genres and may be described differently in other languages.
Opera FAQs: What are Opera Periods and Eras?
What are Opera Periods and Eras?
Historians love to group people together but in the case of opera composers the year the composer was born generally (not always) determines which opera period they belong too. Here’s a rough guide but don’t get hung up over these, there’s plenty of overlap and more than a few exceptions:
  • Baroque opera period (1590-1750).
  • Classical opera period (1750-1820).
  • Romantic opera period (1800-1914).
  • Modernist opera period (1890-1950).
  • Postmodernist era (1930-today).
  • 20th Century era (1900-2000).
  • 21st century  era (2001-today).
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