A drama, either tragic or comic, of which music forms an
essential part; a drama wholly or mostly sung, consisting of
recitative, arias, choruses, duets, trios, etc., with orchestral
accompaniment, preludes, and interludes, together with
appropriate costumes, scenery, and action; a lyric drama. The
score of a musical drama, either written or in print; a play set
to music. Italian for work, A shorting of the term 'opera in
musica,' it means a dramatic text which is sung by one or more
singers to an instrumental accompaniment. It originated in Italy
in the last decade of the 16th century with the endeavours of
the Florentine Camerta to recreate the conditions of Greek
drama. a staged and acted secular musical drama, accompanied by
orchestra, often preceded by an overture. The text is called a
libretto. See opera buffa and opera seria Multi-movement work
for soloists, chorus and orchestra or ensemble, with a secular,
dramatic text A theatrical production that is entirely dependent
on the use of singing and orche