Metastasio: Tragedia Greca --> Opera Italiana

Speranza Following the Arcadia idea Metastasio deletes every reference to the baroque and he goes back to the ancient Greek tragedy. Metastasio tries to make melodrama as a representation that links the nobility of the subject to a gorgeous show. So Metastasio succeeds in being interpreter of 18th century in his requirements of decorum, in his melancholy of magnificence and in his sensibility. In the structure Metastasio is faithful to the acts while "recitativo" are clearly separated from "aria" so the poetry is independent from music. In fact it's clear that in the "recitativo" there's the development of actions which are freer and more independent - some of these became famous independently from the context of the booklet. Characters are usually six: two couples of lovers and two male figures, one propitious, the other opposite to the main couple. A happy end is also necessary. Themes are taken from mythology or history and the main theme is always the conflict between opposite passions or between passion and duty. Metastasio translates irrational in rational schemes and easily singable. In fact he thinks that it's better to describe the conflicts and the emotions conducting to virtue. Metastasio is also considered the first artist of a mass literature, because he writes in a middle language. It is a kind of Tasso's emotional language, but made simple and also enough worthy, to express the feelings of characters.