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What is an opera? |
Music
What do you get when you mix a great story with music, singing and dancing? Opera! In an opera, performers tell a story with music. Talented musicians in the orchestra play their instruments while actors on stage sing (and sometimes dance) the opera’s story. Opera singers spend many hours practicing, and they often sing in languages other than their own!
Opera began in the country of Italy more than 400 years ago, and today people still enjoy these musical stories, many of which are based on well-loved books and plays. The power of opera can be seen around the world—there are hundreds of opera houses where people go to enjoy this art form!
“Opera” means “work” in Italian. Here are some other Italian words you can use when you go to the opera: If you’re impressed by one of the male (boy) singers, you can shout “Bravo!” If you enjoy the performance of a female (girl) singer, shout “Brava!” If more than one singer impresses you, shout “Bravi!”
