What is Opera

An opera is a drama or dramatic piece of work performed entirely to music. Music is central in classical opera. Music
is a natural medium for expressing emotions, moods and feelings. As a result, classical operas tend to be very
dramatic. Traditionally, music was the most important element of opera. In contemporary opera productions, other
features have also become important, such as: acting, staging and costumes.

An opera is a dramatic work. The dramatic feelings and emotions, that are experienced when audiences participate
in an opera production, are mostly due to the music. Drama, in an opera production, comes from and through the
music. To a lesser degree, drama also comes from the plot of the opera. An opera tells a story, which is performed on
stage before an audience.

Operas have themes which provide dramatic elements:

conflict
love triangles
murder
jealousy
political strife.

Most classical operas are associated with the composer, the person who wrote the music for the opera. Some opera
composers have managed to write many operas. Some opera composers are well known because of one particular
opera.

An opera has a libretto. The word “libretto” comes from Italian and means “a booklet” or “a little book”. Although
the correct plural form is libret, many people prefer to use the term opera librettos. An opera libretto is the script
that is sung by the soloists and choir. A libretto also includes stage directions and instructions, which are usually
written by the librettist, for the singers and dancers. A libretst is the person, who writes the libretto. Sometimes,
the composer and the librettist are one and the same person. The most famous composer-and-librettist-in-one is
Richard Wagner. However, it is more common that two people have collaborated on the writing of an opera: a
librettist and a composer. Some operas are created where the composer takes a piece of dramatic work and writes
music. Sometimes the composer and the librettist collaborate very closely during the creation of an opera, adjusting
both as the work progresses. And sometimes, the music is written first and then the librettist has to fit the words to
the music.

A classical opera is performed with a full orchestra composed of the various musical instrument sections:
strings – violins, violas, cellos and basses
woodwinds – oboes, flutes, bassoons, clarinets
brass – horns, trumpets, tuba
percussion – drums, chimes, xylophone

The opera conductor uses an opera music score to prepare for an opera production, to rehearse with the orchestra,
and to conduct the opera performance before an audience. Music conductors frequently make markings and
reminder notes in their personal composer score.

The lead musician of an orchestra is the concertmaster. The name “concertmaster” comes from the German
“Konzertmeister”, which literally means “the concert chief”. The concertmaster plays the violin and sits at the front of
the orchestra, near the opera conductor. In an opera house or opera theatre, musicians perform an opera either
every night or every other night. Classical operas require large orchestras that have from 70 to 100 musicians.
Soloists are singers that play a leading or secondary role in the opera plot. The leading female singing role is
sometimes referred to as the prima donna. Female soloists, who have sung many leading roles are often called
divas.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, soloists were required to only sing. Today, however, engaged audiences demand
that soloists have more. They must look the part, act well, and sing beautifully.

During an opera, soloists sing:

solos –sung by one soloist

duets – sung by two soloists

trios – three soloists singing singing individually and together

ensembles – several soloists, each singing their own part, sometimes together and sometimes with the chorus.

The various types of soloist voices in opera are:

Soprano, mezzo-soprano, and altos for women

tenor, baritone and bass for men.

An opera has a choir. In some parts of an opera performance only a male choir or a female might be necessary.
Chorus scenes sung by the full opera choir, together with the soloists are some of the most memorable scenes for an
opera audience.

An opera has actors that don’t sing, but are present on stage during the performance. These nonsinging actors are
called supernumeraries. Supernumeraries provide dramatic background for the soloists and choir. Stage directors
often use supernumeraries so that the singers can concentrate more on their singing and less on their acting.

Cite: http://www.yusypovych.com/eng/what-is-the-opera/