Chapter 14 - Classical Vocal Music

Classical Opera Genres

  • Opera seria

    • Italian serious opera

    • Idomeneo, 1781

  • Opera buffa

    • Italian comic opera

    • Don Giovanni, 1787

    • Cosi fan tutti (“Thus do they all”), 1790

  • Singspiel

    • German comic opera with spoken dialogue

The Marriage of Figaro

  • Opera buffa (comic opera)

  • Written for soloists, chorus, and orchestra

  • Based on a French play