Opera: Timeline

588 BC   Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon begins siege of Jerusalem Jerusalem

Jerusalem is Israel [i]'s capital [i] and largest city, with a population of 724,000 contained in 123 ... 

; the opera ''Nabucco'' sets the date at 587 BCE.

1597   The first opera is considered to have been written.

1600   Jacopo Peri's Jacopo Peri

Jacopo Peri was an Italian [i] composer [i] and singer of the transitional period between the Renaissance [i] ... 

 ''Euridice'', the earliest surviving Opera, is premiered in Florence Florence

Florence is the capital city [i] of the region of Tuscany [i], Italy [i]. ... 

.

1609   Claudio Monteverdi Claudio Monteverdi

Claudio Monteverdi was an Italian [i] composer [i], violin [i]ist and singer [i]. ... 

 publishes his first opera, ''Orfeo''.

1637   First opera house, ''Teatro San Cassiona'', opens in Venice Venice

Venice is the capital [i] of the region [i] of Veneto [i] and the province of the same name [i] ... 

1644   The opera ''Ormindo'' is first performed in Veni Music by Francesco Cavalli Francesco Cavalli

Francesco Cavalli, Italian [i] composer, was born at Crema [i]. ... 

 and libretto by Giovanni Faustini.

1724   The premiere of ''Giulio Cesare'', an Italian  opera by George Frideric Handel George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel was a German/British Baroque [i] composer [i] who was a leading co ... 

, takes place in London London

London is the capital [i] city of England [i] and of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

1735   The London London

London is the capital [i] city of England [i] and of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 premiere of ''Alcina'' by George Frideric Handel George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel was a German/British Baroque [i] composer [i] who was a leading co ... 

, his first Italian opera for the Royal Opera House Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House is an opera house [i] and performing arts venue in London [i]. ... 

 at Covent Garden.

1738   Premiere in London of ''Serse'', an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel was a German/British Baroque [i] composer [i] who was a leading co ... 

.

1767   Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and highly influential composer [i] of Classical music [i] ... 

 completes his first true opera, Apollo et Hyacinthus.

1848   Robert Schumann Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann was a German composer [i] and pianist [i]. ... 

 composes opera ''Genoveva''.

1853   Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian composer [i], mainly of opera [i]. ... 

's opera ''Il Trovatore'' premieres in Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

1887   The Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian composer [i], mainly of opera [i]. ... 

 opera ''Otello'' premieres at La Scala

1896   The opera ''La bohème'' premieres (Turin).