It started in Italy at the end of the 16th century and soon spread through the rest of Europe. In the 18th century, Italian opera continued to dominate most of Europe (except France), attracting foreign composers such as Handel. Opera seria was the most prestigious form of Italian opera, until Gluck reacted against its artificiality with his "reform" operas in the 1760s.
The tradition started in Italy at the end of the 16th century and quickly spread across Europe by the 18th century, with Italian opera being prominent. Opera seria was once considered the most prestigious form until Gluck's "reform" operas introduced changes in the 1760s.