The primary secular vocal music during the Baroque era was Opera.
Opera emerged in Italy in the late 16th century and quickly became one of the most popular forms of entertainment throughout Europe. It is characterized by its use of elaborate vocal and instrumental music, as well as its dramatic and often fantastical subject matter. While other secular vocal forms such as the madrigal, chorale, and cantata were also popular during the Baroque era, opera was the most significant and influential form of secular vocal music.