What Is Opera? Differences Between Opera and Musicals

Opera combines music and theatre, often drawing its themes from mythology and history. All or part of the text is set to music, and it also incorporates visual arts such as dance and scenery.

Musicals and opera are often confused. The article distinguishes them by describing musical performers primarily as professional actors and opera performers as musicians. In brief, it presents the musical as theatre in which music takes a leading role.

The article traces opera's emergence to Italy after the Renaissance and cites Politian's “Orfeo” as its earliest example.

The article describes opera through two elements: the libretto, which tells the story and is often written in verse, and the music. Songs may be performed by soloists or a chorus.

The article notes the establishment of Ankara State Opera and identifies “Özsoy”, composed by Ahmet Adnan Saygun on a theme supplied by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, as Turkey's first opera.

Duygu Deniz Uşaklıgil
Rekor Sanat – Violin Teacher