![]() La serva padrona ( The Maid Turned Mistress ) is an excellent example of a work connecting the early comedic intermezzi to the fully-formed genre of opera buffa, which was just around the corner. This one-act is still performed regularly, especially by companies that specialize in early opera. One of the first intermezzi to stand on its own, and to stand the test of time, is Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s La serva padrona. Soon audiences wanted more of the comedy to the point where these comedic intermezzi were performed on their own. So, they began including short, comedic performances called “intermezzi” between the acts of the grand tragic opera seria. ![]() While a great tragedy can sweep you away, the composers and performers of seventeenth-century Italy found their courtly audiences enjoyed a bit of silliness mixed in with their star-crossed lovers, interfering gods, and heroic martyrs. These performances eventually developed into a codified genre called opera seria (more on this genre soon). Many early operas and musical plays told tragic or sacred stories. While it may seem like an even split between comedy and tragedy, the origins of Italian opera fall squarely on the side of tragedy. When thinking about theater and live performance, the classic image of the comedy and tragedy masks often comes to mind. That being said, there are some specifics and a history of how Opera Buffa came to be. There it is, simply put, opera buffa is a comic opera. So, if we put opera and jest together, what do we get? A comic opera. If we trace the etymology all the way back, they come from the Italian word buffare, meaning to puff out your cheeks-a gesture often performed by comic actors or jesters. In Italian, “Buffa” means to jest or joke and is the root for the English word buffoon. ![]() “When I need a good laugh, I can always count on an opera buffa.”Įven if you don’t know the definition, you may be able to figure this one out on your own. “Opera buffa is my favorite genre of opera!” Today, we are explaining the term “Opera Buffa.” Definition Please ![]() The performances are long, often sung in a foreign language, and there are so many different terms to learn and remember! Well, we are here to clear things up and make this fabulous artform a little more approachable. Opera can be an intimidating genre of music. Baritone Bruno Taddia performs as Figaro in Opera Colorado’s 2019 production of The Barber of Seville. ![]()
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