The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to opera:
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.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.). 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.
The following is a list of articles on general opera topics:
Essence of opera
History of opera
Origins of opera Querelle des Bouffons
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.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, ; The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, Stanley Sadie (ed), Grove's Dictionaries of Music, 1992, passim
Italian opera Opera in German French opera Opera in English Spanish opera Russian opera Opera in Dutch Finnish opera Hungarian opera Polish opera Opera in Arabic Armenian opera Albanian opera Opera in Azerbaijan Opera in Canada Opera in Cuba Opera in Latin America Opera in Scotland Opera in Venezuela Western opera in Chinese
Component parts
Operatic 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.
Azione teatrale Ballad opera Chamber opera Comic opera Dramma giocoso Duodrama Farsa Festa teatrale Grand opera Literaturoper Monodrama Musikdrama Opéra-ballet Opera buffa Opéra bouffe Opéra bouffon Opéra comique Opéra féerie Opera semiseria Opera seria Operetta Pasticcio Pastorale héroïque Radio opera Rescue opera Romantische Oper Sainete Savoy opera Science fiction opera Semi-opera Singspiel Spieloper Tragédie en musique Verismo Zarzuela Zeitoper
General opera concepts
English opera terms
Breeches role Chest voice Concert performance Duodrama Head voice Insertion aria Mad scene Melodrama Monodrama Number Opera house Patter song Prompter Sung-through Surtitles
French opera terms
Claque Coup de glotte Divertissement Encore Entr'acte Haute-contre Intermède Overture Répétiteur Roulade Timbre Tragédie en musique Travesti
German opera terms
Fach Gesamtkunstwerk Kammersänger Kapellmeister Leitmotif Literaturoper Regieoper Singspiel Sitzprobe Spieloper Sprechgesang
Italian opera terms
Aria Aria di sorbetto Arioso Banda Bel canto Bravura Brindisi Burletta Cabaletta Cadenza Cantabile Castrato Cavatina Chiaroscuro Coloratura Comprimario Contralto Convenienze Da capo aria Diva Falsetto Falsettone Fioritura Impresario Intermezzo Legato Libretto Licenza Maestro Melodramma Messa di voce Mezzo-soprano Musico Opera seria Ossia Passaggio Pasticcio Portamento Prima donna Recitative Ritornello Sinfonia Solita forma Soprano Soprano sfogato Spinto Squillo Stagione Stile rappresentativo Tenore contraltino Tenore di grazia Tessitura Verismo Vibrato
Opera terms from other languages Hovsångare
Music concepts relevant to opera Concert version Libretto Electronic libretto Offstage instrument or choir part Tessitura Vocal range Vocal weight Voice type – classification of singers by the range, weight, and color of their voices Voice projection
Theatre concepts relevant to opera
Act Blocking Curtain call Prop – short for "theatrical property" Rake Rehearsal Stage clothes Stagecraft Theatrical scenery Ticket
Opera house
Auditorium Box Gallery Backstage facilities Green room Orchestra pit Stage Fly system Footlight Prompt corner Revolving stage Safety curtain Stage curtain Star trap
People in opera
Opera composers, librettists, directors List of major opera composers – an annotated compilation of the most frequently named composers on ten lists by opera experts. List of opera librettists – inclusive list of libretto writers. List of opera directors (in the sense of stage director, not general manager or general director (often also called opera director).
Opera singers categories Boy soprano Soprano Coloratura Soubrette Lyric Spinto Dramatic Soprano sfogato Mezzo-soprano Contralto (Alto) Castrato Countertenor Sopranist Tenor Haute-contre Tenore contraltino Tenore di grazia Baritenor Baritone Bass-baritone Bass Basso profondo
Participants in opera Opera performer – similar to, but more specialized than performers in other theatrical productions. Opera performers are at the same time both singers and actors, and often dancers as well.
Ballet dancer Choirmaster Choreographer Costume designer Director – in the sense of stage director, not general manager or general director (often also called opera director) Dresser Banda Charge scenic artist Dramaturge Extra Fly crew Impresario Lighting technician Make-up artist Opera manager Pit orchestra Pit orchestra conductor Prompter Property designer Répétiteur Set constructor Set designer Set dresser Stagehand Stage manager Supernumerary actor Supporting role singer Technician Understudy – also called "cover", a singer who prepares to perform a role in case the principal singer is unable to appear. Video designer Wardrobe supervisor
Opera lists List of Christmas operas List of fictional literature featuring opera List of films based on operas List of historical opera characters List of prominent operas – an annotated chronological list of operas which are included for their historical significance or widespread popularity (or both). List of opera festivals List of opera genres List of opera houses – lists opera houses by name (or name of performing arts centres in which they are located, if appropriate and best known that way). List of operas by composer – an extended list of more than 2,300 works by more than 720 composers. List of operas by title – an alphabetical list by title of operas with Wikipedia articles. List of operas set in the Crusades List of Orphean operas – list of operas dealing with the myth of Orpheus. List of radio operas List of television operas Lists of opera companies
Opera discographies Opera discographies
Books about opera The Complete Opera Book The New Grove Dictionary of Opera Opera and Drama
Films about opera Il Bacio di Tosca Karajan: The Maestro and His Festival Pappano's Essential Ring Cycle This is Opera Wagner's Dream
See also
Glossary of music terminology – list of music topics, with definitions for ease of reference
References
Additional sources
Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), The Oxford Dictionary of Opera, 782 pages,
External links "Database for opera companies, artists, managers and performances", Operabase "Operissimo" – resource for composers and works as well as houses, companies and artists.