BENJAMIN EALOVEGA
This year’s celebrations for Monteverdi’s 450th birthday are an occasion to contemplate the origins of opera.
The early 17th century was a remarkable time: an age of experiment, invention, conquest and creativity. The Renaissance was in full swing, the discovery of the New World had brought untold wealth and power to Europe’s ruling families, and a group of scientists, artists and philosophers were intent on changing the world. For the first time in history, mankind felt in control of its destiny rather than at the mercy of a controlling deity.