The Encyclopedia of Classic Opera · Thursday, July 2, 2026
No CCCXLVII · Established MMXXVI
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Era · The Repertoire

The Modern Era

332 operas catalogued · listed by premiere year.

The modern era · postwar opera · encompasses everything from Britten's chamber operas and Shostakovich's political dramas to the minimalism of Adams and Glass and the contemporary works being premiered today. The form continues to absorb new musical languages without losing its essential identity as sung theatre. Composers in every national tradition continue to write for the lyric stage, and the major houses programme new commissions alongside the canonical repertoire.