The theatrical form of opera, which combines acting, singing, and classical music, originated in Italy more than 400 years ago. Most operas were originally sung in Italian, and today there are historic opera houses throughout Italy where the divas still sing.

The common operatic term bel canto (beautiful singing) points out why so many people refer to Italian as a language that's “sung” by native speakers. Since Italian speakers place the vowels in a forward position (in front of the mouth) just as singers do when singing, it's easy for Italians to switch from speaking to singing. That's probably why so many Italians seem to be blessed with “natural” singing voices. The formation of vowels is integral not only in singing opera but in speaking Italian as well.

If you want to get a head start on understanding a performance, be sure to read the libretto (literally, “little book”) first. The libretto is a play-by-play of all the action onstage, and reading it will enhance your time at the theater. Although you might not be able to follow the songs word for word, what's more important is to get a feel for the action, the excitement, and the drama.

Here are just a few operas that are recognized as masterpieces and are sure to give you a thrill:

• Aida, by Giuseppi Verdi, was first produced in Cairo in 1871. The opera is set in ancient Egypt and is named after the Ethiopian princess who is its heroine.

• Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) is a comic opera composed by Gioacchino Rossini and first produced in Rome in 1816. The barber of the title is Figaro, a character who also appears in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, a sequel.

• La Bohème is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini, first produced in Turin in 1896.

• Rigoletto is an opera by Verdi produced in Venice in 1851. The title is taken from its baritone hero, a tragic court jester. “La donnaè mobile” (the woman is fickle) is its most famous aria.

• La Traviata is another opera written by Verdi. The title is variously interpreted to mean “the fallen woman” or “the woman gone astray.” The work, in three acts, was first performed in Venice in 1853. This is the opera Richard Gere takes Julia Roberts to see in the movie Pretty Woman.

Operatic Vocabulary

If you ever have the opportunity, hearing a performance at Milan's La Scala will leave you speechless. To help you find your way out there, you might need to know a few vocabulary words. See the music vocabulary lists on the following pages.

VOCABULARY: THE OPERA

VOCABULARY: CONCERTS