FERTILE GROUNDS FOR OPERA
The early 18th century was an age of exuberance and appealed to the senses. Whether, through fashion, architecture, visual art, or music, the cultural world displayed an opulence and celebrated abundance, wealth, and prosperity. Think of pieces in an art museum like the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, where the intricate, gilded pieces with swirling brush strokes and vibrant colors catch your eye. The nobility and the Catholic Church held considerable sway over the creation of these works, as they were the primary commissioners and funders; and therefore, the content was devoted to the splendor of the divine. Baroque architecture, such as King Louis XIV’s ornate Palace of Versailles outside of Paris, France, was built to display the expansive power, wealth, and elegance of the monarch. Visual artists who were well-known during this time included Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Rubens. The explosion of creation during the Baroque era along with the trend for powerful nobility to display their wealth through the commissioning of these works, led to the popularity of art and music during this time, and increased its access. Benefactors sponsored performances of pieces they commissioned, and opened attendance beyond their small social circles, creating large festivals and the emergence of opera houses for the general public. Music was commissioned for important occasions like high masses or coronations. Handel’s own Messiah (1741), is perhaps the most famous example.
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FERTILE GROUNDS FOR OPERA
Example of Baroque architecture, Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Rome, Italy. Designed in 17th century.
Golden gate entrance to the Palace of Versailles, France.
