The error in the art-genre of Opera consists herein: a Means of expression (Music) has been made the end, while the End of expression (the Drama) has been made a means.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Opera mistakes music for the main goal while treating drama as secondary, whereas drama should be the primary focus.
- In plain terms
- Opera treats music as the end and drama as the means, which is wrong.
- What can you take from it?
- In opera, story should drive music, not the other way around.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is the main purpose of opera?
- Which matters more in theater music or story?
Another view
Music often carries emotional weight that drama alone cannot.
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