# History of the Opera from its Origin in Italy to the present Time With Anecdotes of the Most Celebrated Composers and Vocalists of Europe

Author: Edwards, H. Sutherland (Henry Sutherland), 1828-1906

Genre: Category: History - European

Language: English

License: Public domain

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40164

Amazon editions: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=History+of+the+Opera+from+its+Origin+in+Italy+to+the+present+Time+With+Anecdotes+of+the+Edwards&tag=cyberlibrar00-20

## Summary

It has often been said, and notably, by J. J. Rousseau, and after him, with characteristic exaggeration, by R. Wagner, that "Opera" does not mean so much a musical work, as a musical, poetical, and spectacular work all at once; that "Opera" in fact, is "the work," _par excellence_, to the production of which all the arts are necessary.[1] The very titles of the earliest operas prove this notion to be incorrect. The earliest Italian plays of a mixed character, not being constructed according to the ancient rules of tragedy and comedy, were called by the general name of "Opera," the nature of the "work" being more particularly indicated by some such epithet or epithets as _regia_, _comica_,...

## Chapters

- [CHAPTER XVIII.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/28/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XVII.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/27/index.md)
- [CHAPTER VII.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/13/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XIX.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/29/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XIII.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/23/index.md)
- [CHAPTER V.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/11/index.md)
- [CHAPTER X.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/16/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XVI](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/26/index.md)
- [ii. 77, 78;](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/30/index.md)
- [CHAPTER IV.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/10/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XIV.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/24/index.md)
- [CHAPTER III.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/9/index.md)
- [CHAPTER VI.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/12/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XI.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/21/index.md)
- [CHAPTER IX.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/15/index.md)
- [CHAPTER II.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/8/index.md)
- [CHAPTER VIII.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/14/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XV.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/25/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XII.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/22/index.md)
- [CHAPTER I.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/7/index.md)
- [CHAPTER I.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/1/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XIV.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/18/index.md)
- [CHAPTER III.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/2/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XI.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/17/index.md)
- [CHAPTER VII.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/3/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XV.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/19/index.md)
- [CHAPTER IX.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/5/index.md)
- [CHAPTER VIII.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/4/index.md)
- [CHAPTER X.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/6/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XVII.](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/history-of-the-opera-from-its-origin-in-italy-to-the-present-ti-d0b5bd2b/chapters/20/index.md)