fouropera
Fouropera is a term used in musicology to describe a cycle or set of four operas that are linked by narrative continuity, shared mythic or thematic concerns, or a common musical language. It is not a formal genre with a fixed rubric; rather, it functions as a descriptive label applied by scholars and programmers to discuss how four operas are intended to function together as a single, extended work.
The most famous four-opera cycle is Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, completed in the 1870s. The
Typical characteristics of a fouropera cycle include interrelated plot threads, recurring leitmotifs, and a long performative
Outside Wagner, the identification of a four-opera cycle is rarer and varies by era and culture. Some