Opera vs. Musical — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Published on February 2, 2024
Opera is a classical performance art combining singing, music, drama, and sometimes dance; emphasizes symphonic music & vocal performance. Musical is a theatrical production combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, & dance; focuses on popular music.
Difference Between Opera and Musical
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Opera, a classical performance art, is characterized by its complete musical score, with performers expressing dialogue through song, accompanied by an orchestra, focusing on vocal excellence and dramatic storytelling. In contrast, musicals blend dialogue, songs, and dance to narrate a story, often incorporating a wide range of musical styles and focusing more on broad audience appeal and entertainment.
The structure of opera is often rigorous and traditional, adhering to classical composition styles, with an emphasis on aria and recitative, showcasing the vocal prowess of classically trained singers. Musicals, however, offer a more flexible structure, combining various elements like songs, spoken dialogue, and dance numbers, aiming to engage and entertain audiences with catchy tunes and dynamic performances.
Operas typically delve into tragic or serious themes, presented in a grandiose fashion, often set in historical or mythical contexts, aiming to evoke profound emotions. Musicals, conversely, cover a broader spectrum of themes, ranging from light-hearted and comedic to serious, offering a more relatable and often uplifting experience.
In terms of production, operas usually feature elaborate sets, costumes, and staging, emphasizing an aesthetic of grandeur and timelessness. Musicals, while also potentially lavish, focus more on dynamic storytelling and may incorporate modern technology and innovative stagecraft to enhance the visual experience and audience engagement.
While both opera and musicals are respected art forms, the audience for opera tends to be more niche, attracting aficionados of classical music and high art, whereas musicals appeal to a wider demographic, often aiming to captivate with relatable narratives, popular music, and a visually engaging production.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Vocal Style
Classical, operatic singing
Varied, often includes popular music styles
Dialogue
Sung, minimal spoken dialogue
Combination of spoken dialogue and song
Themes
Often tragic or historical
Broad range, from light-hearted to serious
Production
Elaborate, grandiose
Diverse, can be elaborate or minimalistic
Audience
Classical music aficionados, niche
Broad, mainstream appeal
Compare with Definitions
Opera
A dramatic art form in which the entire story is told through music and vocal performance.
The soprano's performance in the opera was breathtaking.
Musical
A genre of performance art where music and storytelling are intertwined, often reflecting contemporary themes.
The new musical explores current social issues through powerful songs.
Opera
A theatrical work combining music, orchestra, and sometimes dance, rooted in Western classical tradition.
They attended an opera to experience the grandeur of classical music.
Musical
A popular form of theatre, offering a diverse range of musical styles and dance numbers.
The musical's jazz numbers had everyone tapping their feet.
Opera
A cultural event where the narrative is expressed solely through music, without spoken dialogue.
The opera house is renowned for its acoustics and historic productions.
Musical
A theatrical production known for its catchy music, dynamic characters, and engaging plots.
They went to see a musical to enjoy an evening of lively entertainment.
Opera
A performance piece known for its elaborate stage design and costumes, emphasizing a fusion of music and visual arts.
The opera's set design was as stunning as the vocal performances.
Musical
A stage performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, and dance to tell a story.
The musical had the audience laughing and crying from start to finish.
Opera
A composition characterized by complex musical scores and distinct vocal styles, such as arias.
The composer's latest opera is a masterpiece of lyrical complexity.
Musical
Of, relating to, or capable of producing music
A musical instrument.
Opera
A theatrical presentation in which a dramatic performance is set to music.
Musical
Characteristic of or resembling music; melodious
A musical speaking voice.
Opera
The score of such a work.
Musical
Set to or accompanied by music
A musical revue.
Opera
A theater designed primarily for operas.
Musical
Devoted to or skilled in music.
Opera
A plural of opus.
Musical
A play or movie that contains musical numbers.
Opera
A creative work, especially a musical composition numbered to designate the order of a composer's works.
Musical
A musical comedy.
Opera
(music) A theatrical work, combining drama, music, song and sometimes dance.
Musical
(Archaic) A musicale.
Opera
(music) The score for such a work.
Musical
Of, belonging or relating to music, or to its performance or notation.
Musical proportion; musical instruments
Opera
A building designed for the performance of such works; an opera house.
Musical
Pleasing to the ear; sounding agreeably; having the qualities of music; melodious; harmonious.
She had a musical voice.
Opera
A company dedicated to performing such works.
Musical
Fond of music; discriminating with regard to music; gifted or skilled in music.
The child is musical; having a musical ear
Opera
(by extension) Any showy, melodramatic or unrealistic production resembling an opera.
Musical
Pertaining to a class of games in which players move while music plays, but have to take a fixed position when it stops; by extension, any situation where people repeatedly change positions.
Opera
Plural of opus; a collection of work.
Musical
A stage performance, show or film that involves singing, dancing and musical numbers performed by the cast as well as acting.
Opera
A drama, either tragic or comic, of which music forms an essential part; a drama wholly or mostly sung, consisting of recitative, arias, choruses, duets, trios, etc., with orchestral accompaniment, preludes, and interludes, together with appropriate costumes, scenery, and action; a lyric drama.
Musical
A meeting or a party for a musical entertainment; a musicale.
Opera
The score of a musical drama, either written or in print; a play set to music.
Musical
Of or pertaining to music; having the qualities of music; or the power of producing music; devoted to music; melodious; harmonious; as, musical proportion; a musical voice; musical instruments; a musical sentence; musical persons.
Opera
The house where operas are exhibited.
Musical
Music.
To fetch home May with their musical.
Opera
A drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
Musical
A social entertainment of which music is the leading feature; a musical party.
Opera
Theater where opera is performed
Musical
A drama in which music and song are prominent features; a musical drama or musical play; as, Oklahoma! was a breakthrough in the form and popularity of the musical.
Musical
A play or film whose action and dialogue is interspersed with singing and dancing
Musical
Characterized by or capable of producing music;
A musical evening
Musical instruments
Musical
Talented in or devoted to music;
Comes from a very musical family
Musical
Characteristic of or resembling or accompanied by music;
A musical speaking voice
A musical comedy
Musical
Containing or constituting or characterized by pleasing melody;
The melodious song of a meadowlark
Musical
An entertainment medium that blends musical performance with dramatic narrative, appealing to a wide audience.
The success of the musical led to its adaptation into a film.
Common Curiosities
What defines an opera?
Opera is a theatrical form where the story is conveyed entirely through music, without spoken dialogue, emphasizing vocal performance and orchestral accompaniment.
What are the key elements of a musical?
A musical combines songs, spoken dialogue, and dance to tell a story, often incorporating a wide range of musical styles.
How do the themes of opera and musical differ?
Operas often explore tragic or serious themes with historical or mythical settings, while musicals can cover a broader range of topics, from light-hearted to serious.
Do I need to understand the language to enjoy an opera?
While understanding the language can enhance the experience, many opera houses provide subtitles, and the music and performance can be appreciated universally.
Can operas include spoken dialogue?
Operas primarily use sung dialogue (recitative and arias), but some modern operas may include limited spoken dialogue.
Are dance and choreography important in musicals?
Yes, dance and choreography are integral to musicals, contributing to the storytelling and the overall visual appeal.
How important are costumes and sets in opera and musicals?
Both genres place high importance on costumes and sets, though operas typically emphasize grandeur and historical accuracy, while musicals may vary from elaborate to minimalist designs.
How long are operas compared to musicals?
Operas can be quite long, often lasting several hours with intermissions, while musicals are generally shorter, typically around two to three hours.
What is a jukebox musical?
A jukebox musical is a type of musical that features a selection of popular songs, often from a specific artist or genre, woven into the narrative.
Are musicals suitable for all ages?
Yes, musicals often cater to a wide audience, including family-friendly productions.
Are there any famous crossover artists between opera and musicals?
Yes, some artists successfully crossover between opera and musicals, though the skill sets for each can be quite distinct.
How do I choose between attending an opera or a musical?
Your choice may depend on your preference for classical versus contemporary music, narrative complexity, and the overall theatrical experience you seek.
Is opera singing different from musical theatre singing?
Yes, opera singing is classically trained and focuses on vocal technique and power, while musical theatre singing can incorporate various styles and focuses on storytelling and expression.
What is the significance of the orchestra in an opera?
The orchestra plays a crucial role in an opera, providing the musical foundation, setting the tone, and supporting the vocalists.
Can contemporary music be found in operas?
While traditional operas adhere to classical music, some modern operas incorporate contemporary musical elements.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Procedural Programming language vs. Object Oriented Programming language
Next Comparison
Raster Scan vs. Random ScanAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
