What style of music did opera rebel against and how composers the previous periods?

Opera rebelled against the polyphonic style of music that was dominant in the late Renaissance period. Polyphonic music is characterized by the simultaneous sounding of multiple independent melodic lines, which can create a dense and complex texture. Opera, on the other hand, emphasizes melody and drama, and uses a more homophonic texture, in which one melodic line is accompanied by chords.

Some of the composers of the previous periods who were associated with polyphonic music include:

- Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-1594)

- Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585)

- William Byrd (c. 1543-1623)

These composers were all masters of counterpoint, the art of combining multiple melodic lines in a harmonious way. Their music is often characterized by its beauty, complexity, and spirituality.

Opera emerged as a new form of musical expression in the early 17th century. It was a reaction against the perceived limitations of polyphonic music, and it sought to create a more natural and expressive style of music that would appeal to a wider audience. Some of the early composers of opera include:

- Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

- Jacopo Peri (1561-1633)

- Giulio Caccini (c. 1550-1618)

These composers were all innovators who were not afraid to experiment with new musical ideas. Their operas were often characterized by their use of recitative, a style of singing that imitates natural speech, and by their use of aria, a more lyrical and expressive style of singing.

Opera quickly became one of the most popular forms of musical entertainment, and it continued to evolve and develop throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of the most famous opera composers of this period include:

- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

- Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

- Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

These composers all made significant contributions to the development of opera, and their works are still performed and enjoyed today.