Opera has often been considered as among the grandest and most stirring art forms, capturing the essence of human experience on a monumental scale. Yet, opera’s reach transcends the stage; it penetrates the very fabric of music today, the world of fashion, and pop culture. From legendary composers including Puccini and Verdi, whose compositions have served as inspiration for countless soundtracks, to today’s artists drawing from the thematic and stylistic elements of opera, opera’s impact on creative culture is profound. Its flair for drama, intense feelings, and captivating tales keep resonating with audiences globally, showing that opera holds as much relevance today as it ever has.
In contemporary music, opera’s influence emerges in some surprising places. Think of Queen’s legendary “Bohemian Rhapsody,” an anthem that mimics the structure of opera, or pop stars including Lady Gaga, whose performances often blend elements of operatic grandeur into her shows. Opera offers modern performers a set of devices enabling heightened emotion and majesty, enabling them to lift their artistry to new, theatrical levels. Even hip-hop—often regarded as opera’s antithesis—draws from opera's themes, exploring universal themes of love, betrayal, and redemption. By combining operatic elements with the sounds of today, performers forge a sound that appeals to our universal craving for drama and profundity.
Beyond the musical sphere, opera’s legacy touches on fashion, movies, and our approach to artistic expression. The high style and lavish costumes of opera performances are here echoed in runway shows, red-carpet fashion, and cinematic fashion statements. Meanwhile, movie directors integrate opera music to add weight to their key scenes, while fashion designers are inspired by operatic aesthetics to craft head-turning styles. Though it began centuries ago, it still stands as a potent force that shapes contemporary culture in both grand and subtle ways. In essence, opera is more than just an art form—it’s a bedrock of artistic expression that moves and changes with each new era.