World of the Play: Macro View

Opera
"Opera is a form of theater in which the drama is conveyed wholly or predominantly through music and singing. Opera emerged in Italy around the year 1600 and is generally associated with the Western classical music tradition. Opera uses many of the elements of spoken theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting. Generally, however, opera is distinguished from other dramatic forms by the importance of song and conventions of vocal technique. The singers are accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full symphonic orchestra. Opera may also incorporate dance; this was especially true of French opera for much of its history."
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Opera

Relevance: The entire play takes place in and around an opera house. There are three fictional operas that are performed during the duration of the production.

Ballet
"Ballet developed as a separate, performance-focused art form in France during the reign of Louis XIV, who was passionate about dance and determined to reverse a decline in dance standards that began in the seventeenth century. Louis XIV established the Académie Royale de la Danse (which evolved into the company known today as the Paris Opera Ballet) in 1661. The earliest references to the five core positions of ballet appear in the writings of Pierre Beauchamp, a court dancer and was also a choreographer."
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Ballet

Relevance: Madame Giry - Meg's mother - is the ballet instructor for the Opera Populare. We don't know where she was taught or who she was taught by. Perhaps the person instructing them came from the Academie.


(not done)