opera
A dramatic art form combining singing, orchestral music, acting, and often dance.
In Depth
Opera combines orchestral music, solo and ensemble singing, dramatic text (the libretto), acting, and often dance and visual spectacle into a single art form. Originating in late 16th-century Florence, it was an attempt to recreate the drama of ancient Greek theatre by setting text entirely to music.
Opera quickly spread across Italy and then all of Europe, evolving through distinct national traditions. Italian opera (Verdi, Puccini) emphasizes vocal beauty and melody. German opera (Wagner, Strauss) prioritizes orchestral depth and dramatic continuity. French opera (Bizet, Debussy) values elegance and spectacle. Opera remains one of the most ambitious and emotionally powerful art forms in Western culture.
The longest opera ever written is Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg by Wagner, which runs for over 4.5 hours without cuts. The shortest mainstream opera, Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, lasts about 50 minutes.