The Influence of Orientalism in the 18th and 19th Century Opera Librettos

Abstract

This study aims to trace the change and transformation of meaning and influence of orientalism and in the West from the 18th century through the 19th century in the operas where both content and visual codes were penetrated in the subtlest way, which first evolved geographically and politically, then diplomatically and culturally, and finally the purpose of domination by the West. While opera librettos embodied orientalism visually, the evolving content of orientalism shaped the operas. From this viewpoint, this study discusses the interaction between the East and the West in the 18th century, and the reflection of the historical memory in the performing arts in the 19th century, in which the attempts for domination emerged. In this context, ‘Tamerlano’ Opera by George Frederick Händel and the ‘Abduction from the Seraglio’ Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the 18th century are looked through, and ‘Aida’ Opera by Giuseppe Verdi in the 19th century is construed subsequently.