The Beggar's Opera

About

The Beggar's Opera is an ballad-type opera written by 18th Century dramatist John Gay that's set to music by a little known composer by the name of Johann Christoph Pepusch. Although the opera is not generally considered to belong to the standard Western operatic canon, it is considered to be one of the most popular satiric "folk" operas ever written. The idea for the opera actually came from renowned English satirist Jonathan Swift, who was a friend of John Gay at the time, who wanted to create a musical work that would satirize the obsession of the upper classes with Italian opera during the period. Gay's work has since been adapted and performed countless times since its premier in 1728 and it still remains one of the most revered and well-known examples of English musical theater from the period.