In Italian the word opera means a work which is derived as the plural of the Latin opus.

What is the text/story of an opera called. Aside from solo ensemble and choral singers onstage and a group of instrumentalists playing offstage the performers of opera since its inception have often included dancers. Euridice dies from a. Beethoven accordingly experimented with cutting it back somewhat for a planned 1808 performance in Prague.

This last title is very close to the dictionary definition and is the correct basis for any discussion about opera. The term libretto is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works such as the Mass requiem and sacred cantata or the story line of a ballet. These are cheeky coquettish parts sung by singers with sweet bright voices.

Claudio Monteverdi Mantua Italy c1607. Perhaps his most popular opera is La Traviata which tells the story of Violetta a beautiful courtesan who is fatally ill with tuberculosis. Finally for the 1814 revival Beethoven began anew and with fresh musical material wrote what we now know as the Fidelio overture.

Monteverdis version of the Orpheus story Orfeo written in 1607 is the first example of an early opera that is still popular today. Meanwhile in Germany Wagner singlehandedly changed the course of opera with his huge ambition and talent by introducing new ideas in harmony the use of leitmotifs and expanded use of the orchestra and operatic structure. Lih-breh-toh The text of the opera.

Words of an opera or of a song. The text of an opera or musical including dialogue and lyrics. After that arias became a staple of the opera genre and cantatas and oratorios regularly employed them as well.

A song for a solo singer and orchestra. In Italian it means little book Lyrics. Monteverdi was the founding father of operatic form.