Why are opera sung in italian?

Question

Why? I mean it could be in french or english or german. Didnt french and austrians write opera themselves? Mozart was austrian...i just saw Amadeus and now im curious about some things. What is opera or opus anyway?
When did powdered wig fashion die out and why?
Was Salieri really a "madman."
What is Don Giovanni about? What is a requiem?
Why am i, an agnostic, so interesting in catholicism now anyway? For some strange reason, im attracted to catholics...Were the austrians catholic or prostestant?
I wonder what being a priest is like, im takeing confessions when Casanova comes to me...Catholicism sure seems like an outrageous religion to be in. The scandals, the horror, the myths, the legends, the comedy, the romance, the satires, the drama. Sometimes i feel left out because i wasnt born a catholic lol, but who wants to be a slave to religion. Its like being in 2 dimensions when you could be in 3.

Answer 1

That's quite a lot of questions to be answered here. Why not take a music appreciation class? or a class on Catholicism? or check out some opera or Catholic websites? there are plenty of them out there.

but here's a few answers, so you don't feel completely bashed on here:

Operas are written in many languages. There are a number of very good operas that are written and performed in English.

Opus is singular, Opera is plural. The literal meaning is a "work" a creation of music, art, literature, etc. A "magnun opus" means greatest work of art one has created.

Opera is what one calls the form of musical and dramatic work in which singers convey the drama...versus a play where the actors speak the words.

As for whether or not Salieri was a madman was anyone's guess. He did enjoy success in his time, and was something of a mentor/rival of Mozart. If the play/movie Amadeus is to be believed, Salieri was intensely jealous of Mozart's success, and Mozart mocked him a lot...such things could lead to obsession and eventually mental illness. However, I think it was more a matter of a friendly rivalry...and a bit of "office politics" within the Royal court as it were.

A requiem is a formal Catholic funeral mass...or the music written for such a religious service.

As for Austrians and Catholicism: at the end of the twentieth century, about 73% of Austria's population were registered as Roman Catholic, while about 5% considered themselves Protestants. Now whether they actually go to church...anyone's guess. A friend of mine from Austria told me they have to pay church taxes so a lot of folks refuse to go to church for that reason.

Who says all Catholics are slaves to their religion? or anyone else who believes in a higher power? People often make their own decision on what parts of a religion to believe and hold onto, and what part is useless to them. Agnosticism doesn't seem to be a matter of being in 3 demensions to me. It's a state of doubt, but that's ok, doubt leads to questioning and seeking the truth...and that is what I think you are doing, unless you are a very skilled troll (but I don't think that's the case)...

Well, time for you to hit the library..or at least the Net. Happy learning!

Answer 2

Many of the greatest composers where Italian. It was the international language of opera, but they are written in other languages. It's ugly in English or German and the dialog is so corny and repetitious. I don't think you want to know what they are saying, it detracts from the music. Opus means work. And wigs. Why didn't they die out. I would think the beheadings of the French revolution of aristocrats would have killed it, being a sure sign of an aristocrat. They embelleshed the movie a lot and they doubt Sallieri was mad, just jealous. Your an agnostic because this is the science age and they need more lay scientists for the economy and your curious and the left brain, science side, asks the questions the right brain answers. If you weren't scientifically oriented, but right brain oriented, you would have answers looking for questions and be an Einstein. Psychology and neurobiology are finding how anyone can be almost a genius now, and some of the best work is being done by laymen, people who it's not their profession and can do unrestricted study. And you didn't think they would really teach you to think in school did you? School is more like a control mechanism anymore. Didn't you suspect something was wrong? I think most students do. Thinking people, such as yourself, don't always want to be janitors, the fastest growing profession in America. Of course I'm exaggerating for effect, hyperbole, and venting my spleen, another nine quesions, but enquiring minds must know. Don Giovanni is Don Juan in Spanish, a playboy, Casanova, need I say more on that? Some of the most beautiful opera is in Spanish and arguably French. They are romance languages and smooth, rhyming a lot and soft sounds. It's not the sacred writings that are in two dimension, the interpretions are in one dimension, to be polite, and the meaning in context we'll be using perhaps eternally for the depth, but the scholars know that. Few are scholars of religion or possibly much of anything. Doesn't the world seem like a spoiled child? We are just out of the caves emotionally. They don't say that one sex are cavemen for nothing, I won't say which sex. Look at the comments and take a guess. Hint: it doesn't say cavewomen. It's a Freudian slip, you know the intuition is alway right. There are many slips like that in any language, like insane. Wouldn't you rather be insane then out of sane, lke most people?

Answer 3

Dude, take a music appreciation class.

They sing in Italian, French, German and English.

The wig fashion started to die out at the end of the 1700's (18th century to most) but lasted a bit into the 19th century by a few years. It mostly coincides with the French Revolution and goes downhill from there.

Salieri was not a madman, he was good at writing music, teaching music, and at times jealous, power hungry, etc. In Amadeus he is portrayed as evil and then soulfully mournful. In real life he barely new Mozart.

Don Giovanni as an opera? Why don't you look it up?

Don't know about the agnostic/catholic thing son. Maybe you should be talking to a shrink or a priest or both.

And with all of the above and what you wrote, I suggest you calllllm down, take a deep breath ... slooooowwww down.

Maybe it'll all come together for you. Otherwise enjoy your AHDH or whatever you've got.

Answer 4

Italian opera can be divided into three periods, the Baroque, the Romantic and the modern. The Baroque appeared first, at the beginning of the seventeenth century, and approximately 200 years later, the Romantic. The word opera is a shortened form of the Italian opera in musica (work in music); an English dictionary in 1656 stated, "In Italy it signifies a tragedy, tragi-comedy, or pastoral which is not acted after the vulgar manner, but performed by voices in that way, which the Italians term, 'recitative', being likewise adorned with scenes by perspective, and extraordinary advantage by music."

Answer 5

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RE:
Why are opera sung in italian?
Why? I mean it could be in french or english or german. Didnt french and austrians write opera themselves? Mozart was austrian...i just saw Amadeus and now im curious about some things. What is opera or opus anyway?
When did powdered wig fashion die out and why?
Was Salieri really a...

Answer 6

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because most operas were written by Italians. Besides, have you ever tried to listen to an opera in English? I'd rather listen in Italian--at least then I have an excuse for not understanding it.

Answer 7

if you have only heard opera in Italian, rest assured there are plenty more in various languages.

Answer 8

cause u know italian

Answer 9

o brother,what a dork