The following is not meant to be an outline for your paper. These are merely points you may want to discuss when researching and writing your paper.

Opera

What is an opera?
How many acts should one expect?
Describe what to expect in an act or a scene.
Define all the various types of music: aria, recitative, overture, etc.

The Genre

Identify the various types of opera in each country.
How were they similar? How did they differ?
Who wrote which types? Cite examples.

The Composers

Who were the major opera composers of the 19th century?
Identify their major works.
You may want to discuss the early composers (Donizetti, Bellini, etc.) separate from later (Wagner, Verdi, Puccini).

Nationalism

What were the affects of Nationalism on the music of this time?
Be sure to discuss the Risorgimiento in Italy as well as Wagner's influence in Germany.

Be careful not to get sidetracked writing about other types of vocal music, like masses, oratorios and lieder, which are not operas.