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From Florence to the Gramophone: Why Does Opera Speak Italian?

 From Florence to the Gramophone: Why Does Opera Speak Italian?

Many of our followers ask why iconic arias like "Di Provenza il mar, il suol" or the adventures of Figaro are sung in Italian, even when the characters are French or Spanish.

The answer lies in late 16th-century Florence. Opera was not only born in Italy, but the Italian language—with its open vowels and natural musicality—became the "gold standard" for lyrical singing.

Even Austrian composers like Mozart chose Italian for his greatest masterpieces, such as The Marriage of Figaro. For a 78rpm record collector, understanding this root is essential: in 1900, a baritone like Emilio de Gogorza knew that singing in Italian opened the doors to the most important opera houses and record labels in the world.

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