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Glossary
Acoustics - The science of sound and how it is heard in a given environment.
Act - A section of the opera or play. It can be subdivided into scenes.
Amphitheater - 1) the highest section of seats in a theater. 2) A round or oval public playing space with tiers sloping upwards, away from the playing area, like a football field or coliseum.
Apron - The section of the stage in front of the curtain.
Aria - Italian for "air," in opera it is a well developed solo vocal piece.
Backdrop - A curtain at the back of the stage; it may be painted, left plain or used for projections. It is used to enhance the atmosphere on stage.
Backstage - The area of the stage not usually seen by the audience: wings, dressing rooms, etc.
Baton - The wand the conductor uses to direct the orchestra.
Beat - The basic pulse of a piece of music.
Border - Black velour hung over the stage to hide elements hung from the fly system. See fly system.
Blocking - Movement on stage made by performers, planned by the stage director.
Bravo - Italian for "brave, courageous," it is a form of applause which is shouted by members of the audience at the end of an especially pleasing performance. Strictly speaking, "bravo" is for a single male; "brava" for a female; and "bravi" for more than one person.
Cabaletta - In nineteenth century opera, the final section of an aria (usually quick) showing off the singer's technical virtuosity, with a climactic finish.
Cadence - 1) rhythm in sound. 2) The rise and fall of the voice in speaking. 3) The end of a musical phrase.
Cadenza - An elaborate florid section, usually at the end of an aria, displaying the singer's vocal agility.
Chorus - Group of singers of all vocal ranges singing together; men, women and sometimes children. They often portray the crowd, villagers, courtiers, etc.
Comprimario - A secondary solo role in an opera.
Cue - A signal to enter or exit from the stage, to move or change the lighting or scenery. A musical entrance given by the conductor.
Diva - Italian for "goddess." An important female opera star.
Dresser - The person who helps the artists put on their costumes and checks to see they are ready for the performance. This person also helps when the singer needs to make a "quick change" of costumes within the action of the opera.
Duet - Two people singing together and continuing a dialogue, or each following his or her own story and expressing emotions to the audience. Trio, for three people, quartet for four people, etc.
Ensemble - A French word meaning "together"; a piece for more than one singer; a group of singers or instruments performing at one time. This may or may not include the chorus.
Finale - The last musical number of an opera or of an act.
Fly System - Above the stage, a system of weights and pulleys that connect to steel pipes upon which scenery and lighting is kept. The pipes can be flown in or out to raise or lower the scenery or curtains.
Interlude - A short piece of instrumental music played between scenes or acts.
Key - The basic note of the main scale used in a piece of music. In the key of C, for example, C is the fundamental note; the music often returns to it and comes to rest on it.
Legs - Curtains, usually black velour, hanging on each side and used to dress the stage.
Leitmotif - A recurring musical theme used to identify an emotion, person, object or place.
Libretto - The story of the opera- literally, "the little book," the text, often written by a playwright in collaboration with the composer.
Masking - The legs and borders hung to hide the back stage area from the audience.
Overture - An orchestral introduction to the opera, usually containing the "leitmotiv," played before the action begins.
Prop - Short for properties; objects used or placed on the stage to create the environment and further the action.
Proscenium arch - The structure that frames the front of the stage. Not present in all theaters. The Ellie Caulkins Opera House is a proscenium theater; however, Boettcher Hall is not.
Recitative - A sung narrative which is often heard before an aria or ensemble. The orchestra, piano or harpsichord can accompany it.
Scrim - A thin curtain stretched in front of a scene. It is sometimes painted and is transparent, when lit from behind.
Score - The book that contains all the orchestral parts, singing parts and text of the opera.
Set - The scenic elements that are placed on the stage to create an environment or location in which the characters of the opera exist.
Supernumeraries - Characters who perform onstage but have no singing or speaking roles.
Trouser role - Also known as "pants-role." Term used to describe the role of a young man that is performed by a woman. Composers use this device because they feel the lighter female mezzo voice is nearer to that of a young man's than to that of a heavy, mature male voice. The role of Hansel in Hansel and Gretel is a good example of this.
Vocalizations - Series of vocal exercises to prepare the voice for singing and develop vocal technique.
Wings - Side of the stage from which the performers enter and exit.