Editing Opera in English (section)

==Earliest examples==
In England, one of opera's antecedents in the 16th century was an [[afterpiece]] which came at the end of a play; often scandalous and consisting in the main of dialogue set to music arranged from popular tunes. In this respect such afterpieces anticipate the [[ballad opera]]s of the 18th century. At the same time, the French [[masque]] was gaining a firm hold at the English Court, with lavish splendour and highly realistic scenery. [[Inigo Jones]] became the leading designer of these productions, and this style was to dominate the English stage for three centuries. These masques contained songs and dances. In [[Ben Jonson]]'s ''Lovers Made Men'' (1617), "the whole masque was sung after the Italian manner, stilo recitativo".<ref>Stanley W. Wells, ''Literature and drama with special references to Shakespeare and his contemporaries'' (London: Routledge, 1970), p. 66.</ref>