Opera buffa facts for kids

Opera buffa is an Italian term. It means "comic opera." This type of opera was very popular in the 18th century. It was different from opera seria, which meant "serious opera." Opera seria stories were usually sad or tragic.

Opera buffa was all about fun and entertainment. It was a musical comedy. Just like opera seria, everything in opera buffa was sung. There was no talking. This was different from comic operas in other countries. The story was told through singing that sounded like talking, called recitative. Then, characters would sing beautiful songs called arias. These songs helped them show their feelings and show off their amazing voices.

What is Opera Buffa?

Even though we call it "opera buffa" today, people in the 1700s used other names. Some names were "commedia in musica" or "dramma giocosa." An opera buffa was usually a full show. It was long enough to entertain people for a whole evening.

It was different from a short musical comedy called an "intermezzo." Intermezzos were often performed during breaks in a serious opera. Over time, intermezzos got longer and longer. They slowly turned into what we know as opera buffa. A famous intermezzo was La Serva Padrone by Pergolesi. It became very popular and helped shape opera buffa.

Fun and Characters

Opera buffa always had lots of funny characters. These characters often showed common human weaknesses. For example, they might be silly, vain, greedy, or pretend to be very important. The operas often made fun of the rich and powerful people of the time.

Acting was super important in opera buffa. The shows were very lively and fast-paced. Lots of things happened quickly on stage. At the end of each part of the opera, called an act, all the main characters would sing together. This group singing is called an "ensemble." It's a French word that means "together."

Where Did It Start?

Opera buffa began in Naples, a city in Italy. From there, it slowly spread to other parts of Italy. It was especially popular during carnival time, which is a big celebration. Important composers who wrote opera buffa include Carlo Goldoni and Baldassare Galuppi.

By the end of the 18th century, it became harder to tell the difference between opera buffa and opera seria. For example, Mozart's opera Don Giovanni has many funny parts. But it also has very serious moments.

Images for kids

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  Alessandro Scarlatti, one of the first major composers of opera buffa

See also

In Spanish: Ópera bufa para niños