The art of opera is now a World Heritage Site. The yes vote on Italy's application came yesterday at a meeting of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee in Kasane, Botswana. Italian opera has a deeply rooted and fascinating history that spans centuries. It began in the late Renaissance and reached its success in the Baroque period. One of the earliest significant examples is Jacopo Peri's opera "Daphne", composed around 1597. However, the true moment of glory for Italian opera came in the 18th century with the masterpieces of composers such as Claudio Monteverdi, George Frideric Handel and Antonio Vivaldi. During this period, Italian opera reached its maturity, introducing innovative musical and theatrical elements. From there, Italian opera saw the height of its international influence with composers such as Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, Vincenzo Bellini and Giuseppe Verdi. The works of these masters have left an indelible mark on the opera world, with famous titles such as "The Barber of Seville”, "Traviata", "Norma”, and many others becoming cornerstones of the operatic repertoire. Between the 19th and 20th centuries, Italian opera continued to evolve with composers such as Giacomo Puccini, known for such operas as "La Bohème","Tosca”,and "Madama Butterfly”, further cementing the prestige and influence of Italian opera in the international music scene.
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