Grand opera

The grand opera is a subgenre of French opera characterized by its grand proportions: historical themes, abundance of characters, immense orchestra, expensive sets, sumptuous costumes and stage effects spectacular. Other characteristics are the fluidity of the music (since the recitative accompanied by orchestra is used instead of the dry recitative or spoken dialogue), it is usually divided into four or five acts and it is normal to include at least one ballet. Its first titles date from the 20s and 30s of the XIX century and fell into disuse after World War I.

History

At the dawn of the 19th century, Paris welcomed many French and foreign composers, especially opera composers. This cosmopolitan combination of influences contributed to the formation of the grand opéra. The Italians, especially Luigi Cherubini, demonstrated that the recitative was suited to the dramatic power of the operas that were being created. Other composers, such as Gaspare Spontini, dedicated themselves to writing for the glory of Napoleon, expressing themselves with grandiose works, tailored to the emperor. Added to this was the ability of Parisian opera houses to stage these works and the long French tradition of ballet and stage. All these influences led to the appearance of this style in the late 1820s.

The first operas to be composed following these patterns were Auber's La Muette de Portici (1828); Guillaume Tell (1829), Rossini's last opera; and La Juive (1835) by Halévy. While they weren't unpopular operas, they didn't cause much of a stir either; despite that, they are now considered the most influential, and perhaps the best, operas in their style. Subsequently, other notable and popular examples were composed such as Charles Gounod's Faust (1859), and Hector Berlioz's Les Troyens (composed between 1856 and 1858, but not performed in its entirety). during the composer's lifetime.

The composer most closely linked to the grand opéra is Giacomo Meyerbeer, a Jewish composer of German origin who became known on the Parisian scene with Robert le diable in 1831. He followed his masterpiece, Les Huguenots, in 1836. His works were box office and critical successes.

The commotion reached Germany, where a young Wagner composed Rienzi (1842).

In the end there was a reaction against the excesses of the style, and composers tended to create other types of works, although the tendency to use some of the elements seen before continued. Many operas are classified as grand opéra, even though they formally lack all their elements or have been composed outside their historical framework. Perhaps the best-known and most popular examples are Giuseppe Verdi's Aida and Don Carlo, which retain the majesty, size, ballets, and musical fluidity of the grand opera.