Opera in Latin America and indigenous peoples and were influenced by zarzuela, a form of Spanish opera . In the 20th century many nationalist operas were composed across Latin America, with particularly thriving opera scenes in Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. Today, there are numerous active opera houses throughout Latin America and composers continue to write new operas. We also have organizations such as the International Brazilian Opera Company (IBOC) and Opera Hispanica who are promoting new Latin American operatic repertoire internationally. In 1711, the opera "Partenope" premiered in Mexico City. Its music was by Manuel de Zumaya, the most important Mexican baroque composer. This
Italy–Latin America Conference leading state of the European Union, Italy plays a particularly active role in strengthening the partnership between Latin America and Europe. The Italian linguistic, juridical, architectural and musical traditions have become an integral part of the national identity of many Latin American countries. Two nations, Colombia and Venezuela, are named after the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus and the Italian city Venice respectively, while Latin America itself is indirectly named after the Italic language Latin and the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. The "Latin America" term was coined in the 19th century to emphasize the common heritage of the three Romance-speaking areas