What makes opera special?

You might be wondering what sets opera apart from musicals, concerts, plays, or other forms of live entertainment. Opera shares some characteristics with other art-forms, but there are a few things that make it really special.

1. No amplification
At a concert, vocalists often use microphones to be heard, but opera singers can actually sing loud enough to soar over the orchestra without a mic! Even high up in the balcony, you’ll hear the performers loud and clear. Paired with the passionate emotions you’ll see in opera, it makes for an unforgettable experience.

2. The singing doesn’t stop
With few exceptions, the performers in opera sing the whole time. Dialogue is always sung, usually switching between what’s called recitative (reh-sih-tuh-teev), when a character is singing dialogue in an expository, less melodic way, and aria (ah-ree-uh), when the character (or characters) takes a moment to express their feelings in a more memorable, show-stopping fashion.

3. A tradition that has evolved
Opera’s roots go back to around 1600, and naturally, a lot has changed since then. Many of the most popular operas today are from between the late 1700s and early 1900s, but that doesn’t mean that these operas look or sound the same as they did back then. One of the amazing things about opera is that generations continue the tradition of the music, reinterpreting staging, characterization, musical style, and the message of these operas. Contemporary operas also may use many of the musical aspects of the art-form, which may have been developed over centuries, and apply it to stories that resonate with audiences today.