Where does opera originate?

I've never had the appreciation for opera that I'm sure it deserves. I grew up lower middle class here in Oklahoma, and opera simply wasn't part of the culture. "What culture?" one might ask, and looking back, that's a fair question.

ChampionNymph37634, the appreciation of opera or other musical genre doesn't have to do anything with the social class. My first encounter with opera was in the 7th grade when our music teacher had the idea of having us listening to some opera aria in the classroom. She took us to the opera, "Hernanni" by Giuseppe Verdi. I was spellbound. I sang in the school choir and my parents were listening to some opera. they're working class

ILOVE OPERA ESPECIALLY CARMEN AND MADAMA BUTTERFLY! THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL AND SAD . LA BOHEME IS VERY SADBUT SO ROMANTIC!

Kat9091, Why does that not surprise me ?

Opera means Drama in Italian!