The most beautiful operas in English

The evolution of opera in English followed a historical trajectory all its own: In 17th-century England, where theatre was well established as a popular art form, it wasn't uncommon to see works on stage that blended drama and music. The first "real" operas in English were composed by the famed Henry Purcell, and Handel wrote a number of 18th-century oratorios (like Theodora and Alcina) in the language of his adopted homeland — but large-scale operas faded from popularity in the next century as light operettas, like those of Gilbert and Sullivan, took precedence in the Victorian era. In the 20th century, composers like Benjamin Britten in England and George Gershwin in America began creating serious operatic works, inspiring a host of non-native Anglophones to try their hand as well — and today, English is one of the essential languages of contemporary opera! In this playlist, arranged chronologically, get a taste of operas in the language of Shakespeare from Purcell to George Benjamin, passing through Stravinsky, Barber, Unsuk Chin, and more…