Opera Society Readings

Contrary to modern perceptions, the Opera was not a place for the arts but a haven for social interactions. The opera in the 18th century, was more of a social event in which the purpose was to display ones social status, a place to hold meetings, and a haven for people to meet new people.

Operas were loud, noisy, and in many cases crowded. The perception of music was that "eighteenth-century audiences considered music little more than an agreeable ornament to a magnificent spectacle [conversations], in which they themselves played the principal part" (10). People hardly paid attention to the music or the performances and were mostly interacting with one another. There would be separate rooms (or boxes) for important officials that would be designated as special rooms for them that everybody could see.

The concept of the opera of being a place of social interaction can be actually seen from the design of the opera building. The opera had horrible lighting in which people could not see the stage in most cases. However, the lighting did shine and show certain audience members on purpose for the sole fact of making them seen and known by everybody. Also the usage of "boxes" or rooms designated for VIP members only were used as meeting rooms for discussion and as a special room that was to stand out from the rest of the normal commoners.

The theatricals of an opera was mainly visual than aural. Operas were composed heavily of dances and props. As the audiences reaction was "more amusement than absorption" (23). There would be large magnificent sets made, costumes, and props that caught the eyes of the audience members. This indulgence in visual displays is a clear indicator that "French taste in the middle years of the 18th century increasingly favored display over dramatic intensity" (26).

It wasn't until later on in the 18th century that the opera became a place where it was viewed as an art. This was in part due to the decline of the high upper classes influence on the arts and due in part to other factors such as the rise of talented musicians. As music became more artistic, people became more interested in it. Gluck composed pieces that literally caused audience members to cry thus grabbing their attention better than before. As New talent emerged, people actually "begun applauding during the music to show their approval and cheering for arias to be repeated" (69), something that was never done before.

Individuals perception of music of the opera changed greatly to help facilitate the popularity of opera itself and not the opera house. Many people had perceptions that one should not be too interested in the opera itself and that it was socially unacceptable to do so (31). Also the perception of good music and the development of taste was based on how the noblemen and the uper class viewed the music, where the rest of the commoners just followed their perception. This format of music stayed for quite about while but later on was not enforced as much as individuals started to develop their own opinions of music.

With all the problems and issues that the opera house had, what was the point of having it if there were other social events that could of taken place at better settings?

Why was the social aspect of the opera diminished in influence?