THE NOTION OF THE ENEMY IN THE GREEK OPERATIC WORLD OF THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES 1

Opera has been a major and vital element contributing to the firm establishment of the Greek National School during the first decade of the 20th century, following thetrends of other national schools appearing around or before that time. The national element has been present in several cases and although the Greek National School was firmly established in 1908 with a manifesto that was presented by Manolis Kalomiris, the Greek operatic world dealt with the patriotic sentiment long before that. During several periods in the 19th and 20th centuries, historical circumstances gave composers the opportunity to express themselves through the notion of the heroic, directing the subjects of their works toward the awakening of national pride, contributing to the nationalistic ideas that were developing during each period. Heroism and heroic deeds of the past were the perfect materials for this purpose.