Opera in the 20th century; The influence of 20th century modernism on opera and the opera in the modernist and postmodernist aesthetics context

Significant changes occurred both stylistically and conceptually in opera like in other artisticdisciplines within the 20th century. The effects of these changes in opera must be discussed inthe light of the social, economic, political and cultural background of the period. As the 20thcentury concerned both modernism and post-modernism, the 20th century opera must be dealtin the context of modernism and post-modernism.In the study, the general situation of opera in the 20th century has been evaluated in terms ofcountries; then the general features of modernism and its effects on art and particularly onmusic and opera are explained in the context of especially Frankfurt School and TheodorAdorno?s ideas; the relationship of modernism with the opera is analysed on the operaswritten between 1900-1950. In order to light on both the early 20th century, especially the 19thcentury Romantic opera tradition, and the modernist approaches of the 20th century opera,modernism and opera are discussed on the operas written in the first half of the 20th century.The operas produced in the second half of the 20th century, their new approaches and the post-modernism that has had influences on opera since 1980, and its effects are stated and definedwith examples.Looking at the opera in the framework of modernism allows all the implications and sub-textsto be read truly in the social, political and cultural contexts of the 20th century operas.Therefore it will be possible to arouse the discussions about opera again and to change theidea that opera ended after the 19th century.Key Words: Opera, 20th century, modernism, postmodernism