What is an Opera? An opera is a drama told through acting, singing and instrumental music. The dialogue (conversation) in an opera is usually sung. In most operas an orchestra accompanies the singers. Sometimes there is music for the orchestra alone Dancing is also an important part of many operas.

Operas are usually staged. A stage production includes costumes, scenery and lighting. It is divided into scenes and acts, with plenty of dramatic action.

Two types of Operas Comic Opera : Example Act I: Boy meets girl. Act II: Boy and girl fall in love. Act III: Boy and girl are separated Act IV: They find each other and everyone lives happily ever after.

Tragic Opera : Example Act I: Boy meets girl. Act II: Boy and girl fall in love. Act III: Boy and girl are separated Act IV: They never find each other and everyone dies!

3 Forms of Singing in Opera The Aria: T his is a solo, usually sung by a lead character. It expresses the character’s feelings and personality. The Ensemble: This is when two or more characters sing together. (duet, trio and so on) The Recitative : This is a form of “talking” on several pitches. The main purpose is to keep the storyline moving by telling the audience something important about the characters or plot.

Who is involved in writing an opera? The Librettist: This is the person who writes the libretto, which is the words of the story. The Composer: This is the person who writes the music. Many changes may be necessary in both the libretto and the music before they fit together!

Operas have been written and performed for almost 400 years! There are hundreds of famous operas, many of them performed year after year by the world’s great opera companies.

Let’s see what you remember. What is an operatic solo? What is the result when two or more characters sing together? What is an ensemble for four singers called? What type of singing is like “talking” on different pitches? Who writes the words of the story? Who writes the music of the production?

There are SO MANY parts that make up an opera! Opera is one of the most extensive and expensive art forms today.

WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF THE OPERA???

THE LIBRETTO and LIBRETTIST The Libretto is the story. The Librettist writes the words to the story.

THE COMPOSER The composer writes the actual music, based on the libretto.

THE SINGERS The actors and actresses who use their voices to sing the music the composer writes based on the libretto.

THE CHORUS The many actors and actresses that portray large scenes with their voices that were set by the composer based on the libretto.

THE ORCHESTRA A group of musicians that play the music that the composer wrote based on the libretto. Orchestral players sit in the pit in front of the stage.

THE CONDUCTOR He or she tells everybody when they sing and play. They have to watch the action on the stage and coordinate it all!

THE CHOREOGRAPHER The person who teaches the performers the dances in the show.

THE DANCERS Once in a while, the beautiful and elegant dancers appear on stage. They usually always move in packs

THE STAGE DIRECTOR This is truly the person who runs the show. Their job is to tell EVERYONE what to do and to worry that it will all come together after much practice!

THE SCENERY The artists that make the scenery spend months on it. They have to paint and build and design and decorate and make it look real.

THE COSTUMES Costumes are made by professional sewers. First, they draw a picture of what they want, then they pick out fabric and cut it to fit on a mannequin. Then they call in the singers for a try-on. Costumes come in all shapes and sizes! They can be modern or old fashioned.

An example of costumes for the opera. This one is “I Pagliacci”.

This opera is “Gianni Schicchi”.

This opera is “La Boheme”.

This Operetta (almost like an opera!) is called “Boccaccio”.

MAKE-UP The Make-Up artists have lots to do. Sometimes they have to attach beards, or mustaches, or wigs to the singers. Then, they put on the facial make-up, including false eyelashes. Some times they turn a young person into an old one!

PROPS In the prop room there are rows and rows and rows of THINGS! Swords, cups, trays, guns, ropes, balls, fireworks – YOU NAME IT. The props are the items the singers use to make the play look more real.

LIGHTING The lighting people make sure that the audience can see the action.

CREW The backstage crew makes sure that sets get moved on and off and that the props are in the correct place. The whole show would fail if they weren’t there!

PUBLICITY These are the people who get the word out about the upcoming production. They also make the program including the synopsis (plot) and the cast.

Opera Terms Opera: a large play set to music in which all parts are sung. Overture: music played before the opera begins. Aria: a vocal solo. Acts: how the opera is broken up.

Duet: musical passage for 2. Trio: musical passage for 3. Quartet: musical passage for 4. Ensemble: a small group. Ballet: a story told in dance.

Kinds of Voices Soprano, the highest female. Usually the lead character. Mezzo Soprano, the middle female. The lead’s best friend or rival. Alto, the lowest female. The older characters or the villainess. Tenor, the highest male. Usually the lead character. Baritone, the middle male. Usually the villain. Bass, the lowest male. Older and powerful characters.