The Beggar's Opera

John Gay (1685-1732) was an English poet and playwright writing tales, songs and comedies. In his youth he was patronized by such respected writers as Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift and William Congreve. John Gay was the first to write tales in the poetical form. His style was opposite to that of the Italian opera that was a ruling tendency in those times.

'The Beggar's Opera' is the major literary work by John Gay. It represents a bright example of the satirical opera genre and it is a parody on Italian operas. This piece of art was created with a touch of democratic thought: here we can witness the triumph of folklore motives and melodies. The actual composer who wrote music for the text was Johann Christoph Pepusch.