How did Italian opera affect English musical theatre after Henry Purcell’s death?

Following the death of Henry Purcell, Italian opera exerted a profound influence on English musical theatre, eventually leading to a period of near-total domination by the Neapolitan opera style during the 18th century.12

The arrival of George Frideric Handel in London in 1710 solidified this shift, as he dedicated decades to producing Italian opera seria for English audiences. This trend marginalized native English musical traditions, which had previously relied on the masque and Purcell’s unique synthesis of styles.12

However, the dominance of Italian opera eventually faced a backlash. In 1728, the production of The Beggar’s Opera—a work featuring popular English ballads and satirical content—challenged the highbrow Italian form. This success popularized the "ballad opera," a genre that functioned more like a play with songs and accustomed audiences to hearing staged dramas sung in the vernacular, effectively countering the Italian influence and paving the way for new forms of English musical entertainment.13