Musical Style:
- German Opera: Often characterized by complex musical structures and intricate orchestration. German composers, such as Richard Wagner, employed leitmotifs (recurring musical themes associated with characters or ideas) to create a unified musical experience. Harmonically, German opera featured rich and dense textures, often venturing into chromaticism and dissonance.
- Italian Opera: Italian opera, on the other hand, emphasized melodic beauty and simplicity. Italian composers, like Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, and Giuseppe Verdi, focused on creating memorable arias and ensembles, showcasing the vocal prowess of singers. Italian opera favored more straightforward harmonic progressions and employed bel canto (a vocal style emphasizing vocal agility and embellishments).
Dramatic Structure:
- German Opera: German operas often had complex and symbolic librettos, drawing on mythology, history, and philosophy. Wagner, in particular, sought to create Gesamtkunstwerk ("total artwork"), where music, drama, and visual elements were seamlessly integrated to convey deeper philosophical ideas and emotions.
- Italian Opera: Italian opera librettos were typically more direct and focused on romantic or historical narratives, often involving love, jealousy, and revenge. Italian opera composers placed greater emphasis on the emotional resonance of the story and characters, aiming to elicit strong reactions from the audience.
Vocal Style:
- German Opera: German operas demanded more versatile and powerful singers who could handle complex vocal lines, often requiring dramatic intensity and expression. Wagnerian singers needed to possess both lyrical and declamatory skills, as his operas often demanded both soaring melodies and dramatic recitatives.
- Italian Opera: Italian opera favored singers with exceptional vocal technique and agility. Italian opera singers were celebrated for their ability to execute intricate embellishments, coloratura passages, and soaring high notes. Bel canto technique was highly prized, and singers displayed their virtuosity through elaborate arias and duets.
Orchestra:
- German Opera: German operas typically featured larger orchestras with a diverse range of instruments. Wagner, for instance, expanded the orchestra to include instruments like the bass tuba, English horn, and contrabass clarinet, creating a rich orchestral palette.
- Italian Opera: Italian operas employed smaller orchestras, with a focus on strings and woodwinds. The orchestra played a supporting role, providing accompaniment to the singers and emphasizing the melodic lines.
These differences reflect the distinct artistic visions and cultural influences that shaped German and Italian opera in the 19th century. Each tradition contributed significantly to the development of opera, captivating audiences with their unique blends of music, drama, and vocal artistry.