Demystifying Opera - 101
What is opera? The Lay-person’s defininition.
This is a basic definition of opera and explains to the first-time opera listener the difference between opera buffa and opera seria.
Ask any number of people what opera is and you are likely to get a variety of responses. These responses can range anywhere from excitement to fear and trepidation and everything in-between. Some common misconceptions you might hear include:
“Isn’t that when some fat woman with horns sings loudly?”
“Opera is something old, rich people go to.”
“Opera is where a bunch of people run around in tights singing in some strange language that I don’t understand.”
“Opera is Broadway for snobs!”
What is opera really? Why do we have these misconceptions? Opera is most basically defined as a type of a play, if you will, where the story is completely (or for the most part) sung. Opera, like regular play, uses scenery, costumes, and acting. Opera can also include dance. An orchestra often accompanies the singers. This orchestra can be of varying size and instrumentation. Though most opera is totally sung, there are some operas that do incorporate spoken dialog. Opera plots are often based upon great literary works by such writers as William Shakespeare. Opera, therefore, is a combination of Music, Drama, Dance, Literature, and Visual Art.
Opera comes in two basic flavors:
1. opera seria or serious opera such as La Bohème. This type was originally meant for the upper class. Think ER, CSI, or the West Wing or your favorite primetime drama on this one! Serious opera usually has some sort of tragic or heroic theme as its basis.
2. opera buffa or comic opera such as Barber of Seville. These were originally meant for the lower classes. Think Seinfeld and Ugly Betty here. It is opera buffa that is the root of what becomes operetta, musical review shows, and what we now know as the Broadway Musical.
