Name an example of opera buffa.

• A. Pergolesi's La serva padrona
• B. Handel's Giulio Cesare
• C. W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni
• D. Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea

Answer: (A)

Opera buffa centers on everyday, relatable characters and light, witty storytelling, often with quick melodies and a lighter, more domestic tone than serious opera. Pergolesi’s La serva padrona epitomizes this genre: it’s a short, comic intermezzo about a clever servant girl and her scheming master, built around brisk dialogue (recitative) and straightforward, catchy arias that highlight character interactions and social shifting rather than grand tragedy. Its emphasis on comic situations, social satire, and accessible musical material helped define and popularize opera buffa in the 18th century.

By contrast, Giulio Cesare is an example of opera seria, with grandiose, heroic themes and austere musical textures; Don Giovanni sits between genres as a dramma giocoso, blending comedy and tragedy but not fitting the pure buffa mold; L’incoronazione di Poppea is an early Baroque opera seria.