verismo

[ vuh-riz-moh; Italian ve-reez-maw ]

noun

1. the use of everyday life and actions in artistic works: introduced into opera in the early 1900s in reaction to contemporary conventions, which were seen as artificial and untruthful.

verismo

/ vɛˈrɪzməʊ; veˈrismo /

noun

1. music a school of composition that originated in Italian opera towards the end of the 19th century, drawing its themes from real life and emphasizing naturalistic elements. Its chief exponent was Puccini

Word History and Origins

Origin of verismo¹

1905–10; < Italian: realism, equivalent to ver ( o ) true (< Latin vērus ) + -ismo -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of verismo¹

C19: from Italian; see verism