Law and War in the Opera

The discussion of law and war as depicted in opera confirms the music theatre’s ability to clearly depict, draw on and produce deep emotions. This makes opera attractive to audiences seeking an immersive experience of singing, orchestral music, acting, and other stage crafts. The emotional power of opera makes it an effective tool of propaganda, with depictions of war likely to create a common patriotic feeling among the audience, to ignite resistance to or dislike of an enemy. Opera may also be used to warn of the dangers of a feeble government that invites foreign invaders, as in the example of Prince Igor. The soviet opera War and Peace demonstrates how an original, more sombre literary source can be subverted to produce a rousing call to become patriots rallying behind an all–powerful leader. Yet, other political sentiments expressed in opera may include a more peaceful message, one of warning against the horrors of war as in The Passenger, Armida, Simon Boccanegra or Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda. Depictions of law and crime form one of the means at the disposal of opera to tell stories, to attract, fascinate and influence audiences.