Here's why:
* Historical Roots: Opera originated in Italy in the 16th century, and Italian was the dominant language of the time. Many of the early and most famous operas were composed in Italian.
* Musical Tradition: Italian has a rich musical tradition with a highly developed system of vowel sounds and pronunciation that lends itself well to singing.
* International Prestige: Italian opera gained immense international prestige, and other countries adopted it as their own, often using Italian as the performance language.
However, it's important to note:
* Other Languages: Opera is sung in many other languages, including French, German, English, Russian, Czech, and Spanish.
* Translations: Opera libretti (texts) are often translated into other languages for audiences who don't understand Italian.
* National Opera Traditions: Each country has its own distinct opera traditions and national composers, and some operas are specifically written in their native languages.
So, while Italian is the most common language for opera, it's certainly not the only one!