Pronunciation

/ˈɒprə/

Definitions

• Noun: A form of theatrical performance that combines singing, spoken dialogue, acting, and often dance, set to a musical score with orchestral accompaniment. It usually features elaborate costumes, sets, and sometimes includes elements of spectacle such as acrobatics or pyrotechnics. For example: “She performed the lead role in the famous Italian opera La Traviata.”
• Noun (informal): Referring to something as characteristic of or relating to operas, particularly in terms of melodrama or grandeur. For example: “Their love story had all the drama and intensity of a real-life opera.”

Phrases

• “Opera house”: A theatre designed specifically for opera performances.
• “Grand opera”: A genre of opera characterized by large-scale productions with dramatic stories and music.
• “Opera glasses”: Small, portable telescopes used by audience members to view details on stage during a performance.

Example Sentences

• Noun (theatrical performance): “They attended a performance of Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’ at the Royal Opera House.”
• Noun (informal usage): “Her life was like an opera, filled with passion, betrayal, and redemption.”

Synonyms

• Musical drama
• Operetta (a light form of opera)
• Oratorio (a large-scale musical work for voices and orchestra, typically based on a religious text)
• Theatrical production
• Melodrama (in the context of a dramatic story resembling that of an opera)