| Abstrakt: |
The paper deals with the social aspects of opera development during the first two hundred years of its existence within the 17th and 18th century. The opera gradually became a genre of different social strata that addressed the elite (sovereigns, nobility and clergy) as well as the masses (burgesses). Since its emergence the social and entertainment functions were becoming increasingly important alongside with its artistic function. By the end of the 18th century the social function even dominated and the opera attendance was associated with many social rituals. Despite the heterogeneity of the opera audience, the opera served as a tool of social differentiation via consumption patterns. From a sociological perspective three different types of opera were developed: court opera (only for invited noble guests), commercial opera (public opera for a socially differentiated and paying audience), and middle-class opera (touring opera companies). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
