Describe 2-3 major influences that Verdi, or Wagner, or Puccini exerted upon opera in terms of making it more innovative, realistic, and controversial.

Opera and Society
Please respond to each of the following questions, using sources under the Explore heading and the textbook as the basis of your response:
Describe 2-3 major influences that Verdi, or Wagner, or Puccini exerted upon opera in terms of making it more innovative, realistic, and controversial. Give a brief description of one composer’s opera and discuss how audiences may have reacted to the work. Use the text as a source and/or the web links listed below. 
Opera and Society
Chapter 30 (pp. 999-1004), Wagner and Verdi; (pp. 1133-1134), Puccini; review the Week 5 “Music Folder”
Huizenga article and audio selections at http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2012/04/11/150420827/talk-like-an-opera-geek-how-verdi-wagner-and-puccini-got-their-grooves
Wagner video of a stage production (Tristan und Isolde) at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAEkTK6aKUM
Verdi video clip of stage production (Rigoletto) at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5NEOh-XhyA
Puccini video clip of stage production (Tosca) at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sSoKbv46zc