They started out, with Purcell and Handel, etc. then they gave up.
2006-12-27 22:36:41 · 5 answers · asked by niko 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
They also had Gilbert and Sullivan.
Probably another reason why they didn't upkeep with their operas was because of their rich theatre tradition. Ever since the Elizabethan age when Shakespeare and his contemporaries created their masterpieces, theatre has flourished very prominently in England.
On the other hand, countries like Italy are not really well known for the plays that they created. They are very famous, though, for their operas.
So, I guess to put it bluntly, England never developed a real opera tradition because they didn't need to. Their theatrical accomplishments were sufficient to fill the cultural needs of their people.
2006-12-28 08:59:51 · answer #1 · answered by -The- Hardcore Thespian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hard to say. There has always been plenty of opera in England, but between Purcell and Britten it was mainly from "foreign" composers. It may be that opera was considered a "non-native" art form, and therefore English composers either didn't try it, or weren't that successful.
There have been a few successful British operas during that time period, though. Arne has a few, and there are operas by Balfe ("The Bohemian Girl") and others in the19th century.
Benjamin Britten was a major opera composers, though, so it is not fair to say that England NEVER developed an operatic tradition.
I would recommend any of several excellent histories of opera including Grout: A Short History of Opera, or the New Grove Dictionary of Opera article on "Great Britain".
2006-12-28 08:31:15 · answer #2 · answered by snide76258 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They didn't "give up." Opera originated in Italy then moved to places like France and Germany. England at first rejected opera, especially foreign opera. It wasn't very well accepted at the time, so it sort of fizzled out. And FYI, Handel wrote oratorios :)
2006-12-28 10:10:30 · answer #3 · answered by Julie B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
England gave us the best theater actors.....Handel for me worst more than 5 other operas
2006-12-28 06:55:31 · answer #4 · answered by ytamarsiani40 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to any pub and you'll get all the opera you want honey.. after a few wee pints those english guys are singin. haha bye
2006-12-28 06:40:54 · answer #5 · answered by ♥lois c♥ ☺♥♥♥☺ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋