18th-century opera

Eighteenth-century opera, particularly during the Baroque and Classical periods, blended music, drama, and visual art to tell stories. Composers like Handel, Mozart, and Gluck revolutionized the genre, using emotional melodies and intricate orchestration. Operas often featured elaborate performances with singers showcasing their vocal talents, combined with acting to convey plots that ranged from mythology to everyday life. This era saw the rise of both serious operas (opera seria) and lighter, comic operas (opera buffa), making opera more accessible and popular among audiences across Europe. The innovations of this period laid the groundwork for modern musical theater.