grand opera

Grand opera is a style of opera characterized by a serious or tragic plot where the entire text is set to music. Emerging in 19th-century Paris, it was known for its large-scale spectacle, historical or pseudohistorical librettos, elaborate scenery, costumes, ballets, and numerous performers. This style significantly expanded the orchestra and its role in the drama, moving away from the delicate bel canto singing.12

Key figures in the development of grand opera include Luigi Cherubini and Gaspare Spontini, who initiated the trend in Paris. Giacomo Meyerbeer is considered a leading figure, with operas like Robert le diable and Les Huguenots achieving immense popularity. The genre also influenced composers like Hector Berlioz and Richard Wagner, though Wagner later developed his concept of Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art) which emphasized a unified dramatic experience with the orchestra playing a central role.23