Opera is a type of musical performance where singers act out a story on stage with an orchestra playing the music. The characters usually sing instead of speaking.
From Italian “opera” meaning “work” or “piece of work,” from Latin “opera” meaning “effort, labor.” It originally referred to a work of art or music and then became the name of this specific dramatic musical form.
The word ‘opera’ just means ‘work,’ as in a big artistic job, not something fancy or elite. When people in the 1600s talked about an opera, they were basically saying, “Come see this big musical project we made.”
Opera as an art form has long encoded gender norms in its plots, vocal roles, and casting, often idealizing or punishing female characters and marginalizing women composers and directors. Voice types are also tightly linked to gendered expectations.
When discussing opera, avoid treating male composers and conductors as the default authorities. Acknowledge diverse creators and challenge stereotypes about which roles or careers within opera are 'for' a particular gender.
Women such as Francesca Caccini, Ethel Smyth, Kaija Saariaho, and many contemporary directors and performers have significantly shaped opera, even when institutions sidelined their contributions.
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