A Brief History of Opera Born in Italy more than 400 years ago during the Renaissance, opera—a combination of vocal and orchestral music, drama, visual arts and dance—has been inspiring people for ages.

Did opera begin in the Middle Ages?

The art form known as opera originated in Italy in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, though it drew upon older traditions of medieval and Renaissance courtly entertainment.

When and how did opera begin?

The origins of opera can be traced back to 16th Century Italy. The first recorded use of the term “opera” was in 1639 although the first opera composition was written in 1597. This first opera, entitled “Dafne”, was created with the hope of reviving classical Greek drama as part of the broader Renaissance movement.