What is the difference between opera and music theatre?
Music theatre is an American art form that grew out of the rich music and theatre traditions of Europe. The main difference between these two forms is in the musical language: opera is composed in a classical style, while music theatre is composed in a popular and/or jazz style. Also, opera is usually completely sung while music theatre contains spoken dialogue and songs. The differences can be difficult to distinguish. Most often, the composer of the work specifies whether it will be opera or music theatre. Opera is alive and well! Even today opera composers adhere to the Greek tradition of fusing poetry and music. The subject matter of operas has evolved to include contemporary plays, biographies and folk tales. There will always be a place for beautiful music, great drama, and the very best of storytelling. Continue Reading…
