Melodic or semi-melodic passages occurring in the midst of, or instead of, recitative, are also referred to as arioso. In some forms of opera, such as Singspiel, opГ©ra comique,operetta, and semi-opera, the recitative is mostly replaced by spoken dialogue. Duets, trios and other ensembles often occur, and choruses are used to comment on the action. Traditional opera, often referred to as вЂњnumber opera,вЂќ consists of two modes of singing: recitative, the plot-driving passages sung in a style designed to imitate and emphasize the inflections of speech,В and aria (an вЂњairвЂќ or formal song) in which the characters express their emotions in a more structured melodic style. Some composers, notably Richard Wagner, have written their own libretti others have worked in close collaboration with their librettists, e.g. The words of an opera are known as the libretto (literally вЂњlittle bookвЂќ). Today the most renowned figure of late 18th century opera is Mozart, who began with opera seria but is most famous for his Italian comic operas, especially The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze Di Figaro), Don Giovanni, and CosГ¬ fan tutte, as well as The Magic Flute (Die ZauberflГ¶te), a landmark in the German tradition. Opera seria was the most prestigious form of Italian opera, until Gluckreacted against its artificiality with his вЂњreformвЂќ operas in the 1760s. In the eighteenthВ century, Italian opera continued to dominate most of Europe (except France), attracting foreign composers such as Handel. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition.В It started in Italy at the end of the 16th century (with Jacopo PeriвЂ™s lost Dafne, produced in Florence in 1598) and soon spread through the rest of Europe: SchГјtz in Germany, Lully in France, and Purcell in England all helped to establish their national traditions in the seventeenthВ century. The Palais Garnier of the Paris OpГ©ra, one of the worldвЂ™s most famous opera houses

Opera music