The Birth and Life of Opera

The documentary “The Birth and Life of Opera” shows the different ways that opera was influential over history. Opera was originated in Italy over 400 years ago. A group of writers and poets in Italy called the Camerta created a new type of entertainment that offered a story as well as music.

A great deal of the music we have explored in this class is unrecognizable for me but throughout this documentary I began to recall a few of the songs. Mozart’s La Marriage De Figaro was an easy story to comprehend and I recognized the music. It was a story about a count who tried to get vengeance on a servant named Figaro by taking the virginity of the household maid who Figaro happened to be marrying soon. Figaro had tried to ruin plans between the count as his wife prior. At the end of the story the servant bests the powerful count. This opera was extremely popular and revolutionized opera during this time.

I thought it was interesting how opera was used during times of war in history as propaganda.


I realize now after watching this documentary how the success of opera over the years made it possible for modern day broadway to still exist.