Opera Philadelphia

The Language of Opera

ACT

main sections of a play or opera 

ARIA

a solo song sung in an opera 

BALLET

dance set to music 

BLOCKING

action on stage 

CHORUS

music composed for a group of singers; the name of a group of singers in an opera 

CONDUCTOR  

person who rehearses and leads the orchestra 

DUET  

a song performed by two singers 

LIBRETTO  

the text or words in an opera, an opera’s script 

ORCHESTRA  

a group of musicians who play together on various musical instruments 

OVERTURE  

a piece of instrumental music played at the beginning of an opera 

PROGRAM  

booklet that contains information about the opera, composer, performers, the opera company, and includes advertisements 

RECITATIVE  

words that are sung in the rhythm of natural speech 

REHEARSAL  

time when singers/actors practice with or without the orchestra; time when musicians practice together with the conductor 

SCENE  

segments of action within the acts of an opera 

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