Opera as Soundtrack

Jeongwon Joe examines the role of opera as soundtrack by exploring the distinct effects opera produces in film, and what elements set opera apart from other types of soundtrack music, such as jazz or symphony. The author explores why opera tends to accompany poignant, pivotal scenes; she argues that when soundtracks employ opera excerpts, the pieces tend to appear at critical moments in the film, and are usually associated with the protagonists. The book focusses on the post-1970s, a period distinguished by an increase of opera excerpts on blockbuster film soundtracks.