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Exploring the development history of European musicals
(A) the birth of musicals

In Europe in the17-18th century,

In those countries where progressive thinking is active. Music has become a powerful tool for people to express their thoughts and feelings. Italians have found a way to sum up their feelings by voice; The Germans found a way to summarize philosophy and describe psychology with sound; In addition, grand musicals and heroic oratorios have been developed in France and Britain. This is the result of progressive artists' conscious pursuit of a new way of expression-the most dramatic way of expression, inspired by Renaissance thought.

The artistic intention of opera is to inject lofty feelings into the audience and enrich it. However, this gorgeous Italian opera can't fully satisfy the audience's interest and emotion, so an art form called "living among miscellaneous and opera" came into being.

The first musical in history was john kay's The Beggar's Opera, which premiered in London on 1728. It was called "folk opera" at that time. It takes the songs that were widely circulated at that time as the main story, and satirizes the rulers and gorgeous Italian operas to some extent.

1750, a traveling troupe first staged a beggar's opera in the northern United States, which was the beginning of Americans' personal experience of musicals. After that, British comedy opera, Czech opera and Vienna operetta also made some types of attempts, which can be described as the embryonic form of dry musicals. But it was not until 1866 that the audience in new york was really moved by the impact of the musical The Black Devil. The Black Devil is therefore recognized as the first American musical. Spectacular scenes and a group of beautiful shirtless girls left a deep impression on the audience. Since then, enjoying the drama decorated with songs has become the most attractive form of entertainment.

In fact, the first use of the name "musical comedy" can be traced back to the late19th century, when producer George Edward staged this work at the Getty Theatre in London. 1893, an Englishman, S. Jones, created a play, music, singing and dancing, Happy Girls. The play is full of humor and drama, coupled with easy-to-understand music, which has aroused great repercussions. Especially when George and Edward brought super girls to new york, it was not only accepted by people, but also promoted the development of American musicals.

(B) the development of musicals

After more than half a century's multi-directional exploration after the middle of19th century, musicals gradually gained music and dance. By the middle of the twentieth century, drama combination has become a unique form of drama performance. He said that, in a word, it is to make music and dance give full play to their potential and integrate these factors into an organic art, supported by simple, unique and attractive plots and based on the actors' dramatic performances.

As the definition of musical in The Concise Encyclopedia Britannica shows, it is a kind of "dramatic performance" that can "stimulate emotions and give people entertainment". If drama itself is a comprehensive art, then musical is a "comprehensive" form of drama compared with drama.

Broadway musicals, with their rhythm, fantastic artistic effects and intoxicating dramatic stories, have become a unique "commodity for daily use" and have been recognized and loved by people all over the world. Even if its form itself comes from other categories, it still becomes a blooming artistic miracle. Americans proudly say: "America has given the world a new form!" " " .

Americans' excitement and support for musicals is "like Milan waiting for Puccini's new opera, or Vienna waiting for Brahms' new symphony". They are not only willing to pay a lot of money to see musicals and have a heated discussion at breakfast or parties, but also look forward to Logis' next work. Although musical was born and grew up in the United States, its contemporary art form and strong entertainment make it a performing art that audiences all over the world like.

Until today. In America. In European countries, as well as Japan and South Korea in Asia, musicals are competing in the cultural consumption market with strong vitality. Become a famous pearl of pop culture.

(C) Musical exploration period

Although the history of the United States is short, it has contributed a wide variety of entertainment to please human eyes.

19th century, cities mushroomed all over the United States, so there appeared two forms of entertainment for urban audiences: vaudeville (Vandevi 1 1c) and its more vulgar sister drama-burlesque. Light music suits everyone's taste. Weekly programs include acrobatics, magic, dancing and animal performances. Solos and burlesque, etc. There are many sources of vaudeville: special programs during intermission in legal theaters, performances of black songs, gadgets selling wild medicines, performances in British concert halls, and dirty and shameful "music salons" only for male audiences.