Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work (called an opera), which combines a text (called a libretto) and a musical score.[1] Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition. While the scale of opera can be larger or smaller—there are many different genres of opera—performance typically involves different types of artist (singers, instrumentalists and often dancers and actors) and technical staff. Usually an orchestra led by a conductor accompanies the singers. In contrast to spoken theatre, the opera world is international. Italian, German, French, English, and Russian works are performed worldwide in their original languages, and artists travel from country to country performing.[2]

The following is a list of articles on general opera topics:

Essence of opera

Main article: Opera

History of opera

Main article: Opera § History

Opera in different national traditions

Operas have been written in a diversity of languages with many countries or regions developing their own operatic style, tradition and history.[3]

Component parts

Operatic genres

Main article: List of opera genres

Over the centuries, the original form of opera, as established by Claudio Monteverdi and his contemporaries, has diversified into distinct and recognisable genres, in addition to the national traditions listed above. These include, but are not limited to, the following.

General opera concepts

Music concepts relevant to opera

Theatre concepts relevant to opera

Opera house

Main articles: Opera house and List of opera houses

People in opera

Opera composers, librettists, directors

Opera singers categories

Participants in opera

The participants in an opera performance are similar to, but more specialized than those in other theatrical productions.[2] Opera performers are at the same time both singers and actors, and often dancers as well.

Other participants are:

Opera lists

Opera discographies

Books about opera

Films about opera

See also

References

  1. ^ Some definitions of opera: dramatic performance or composition of which music is an essential part, branch of art concerned with this (Concise Oxford English Dictionary); any dramatic work that can be sung (or at times declaimed or spoken) in a place for performance, set to original music for singers (usually in costume) and instrumentalists (Amanda Holden, Viking Opera Guide); musical work for the stage with singing characters, originated in early years of 17th century (Pears' Cyclopaedia, 1983 ed.).
  2. ^ a b Plotkin, Fred (1994). Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera. Hyperion. ISBN 978-0-7868-8025-6.
  3. ^ Silke Leopold, "The Idea of National Opera, c. 1800," Unity and Diversity in European Culture c. 1800, Tim Blanning and Hagen Schulze (eds), Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 19–34; The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, Stanley Sadie (ed), Grove's Dictionaries of Music, 1992, passim

Additional sources

External links

Opera
Category