The Nature and Functions of Wine in Opera

摘要

Wine has been an important ingredient of opera since its inception, though, only occasionally is a particlar variety stipulated. In this paper fourteen Junctions of wine in opera are characterised and contextualised by indicative examples. In some cases Spirits are invoked and the reader's indulgence is sought for this trespass. Wine is drunk in a considerable number of operas, particularly 19th-century operas, when the brindisi flourished, a drinking song in which a solo singer proposes a toast anda chorus usually follows echoing the same words and melodies. In this paper I shall focus mainly on the varied functions of wine in opera.