Behind the Scenes

Opera Glossary

For opera first timers or those who want a quick reference point, here are some simple opera terms and their meanings.

Aria

From the Italian word for 'air'. This is a song for a solo voice with instrumental accompaniment.

Adagio

A smooth, slow tempo.

Andante

A relaxed walking tempo.

Apron

The front part of the stage between the orchestra pit and the curtain.

Ballad opera

A combination of spoken dialogue with well-known vocal tunes and dances. Popular in England in the early 18th century.

Bel canto

Meaning 'beautiful singing' a fluid and lyrical vocal style popular in the mid-17th to mid-18th centuries. The singing takes precedence over the words or plot.

Baritone

The medium male voice. Between the lower bass and higher tenor.

Baroque operas

Popular from the early-1600s to the mid-1700s, these operas are characterised by elaborate vocals and emotional, highly stylized and fanciful plots.

Bass

The lowest of the male voices.

Bass-baritone

A male voice combining the quality of the baritone with the depth of the bass.

Basso buffo

A category of male voice; a singer who specialises in comic characters.

Basso profundo

The most serious of the bass voices.

Bravo!

The Italian term shouted in approval at the end of a performance.

Cadenza

A series of difficult, fast, high notes, sung at the end of an aria. Often improvised, singers use them to demonstrate their vocal abilities.

Camerata

A gathering of writers and musicians who met regularly, in the late 16th century, to discuss and experiment with art.

Cantata

Generally for chorus and soloists, a musical form based primarily on narrative text.

Castrato

Male with a singing voice equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano or contralto.

Coda

The final idea presented in a musical composition.

Coloratura

A very high-pitched soprano. May also refer to feats of vocal agility; fast and high singing with accompanying trills.

Commedia dell'arte

Popular in Italy, plots revolve around disguises, mistaken identities, and misunderstanding.

Contralto

The lowest female voice.

Deus ex machina

A staging or literary device referring to salvation from a tricky situation by a god or goddess.

Diva

A female opera star. Translated into 'goddess'; may imply a demanding or highly-strung star.

Falsetto

The high ranges of a male voice, sounding like a female voice. A 'false' voice.

Finale

Usually involving a large number of cast members, the last song of an act.

Grand opera

Opera that is sung start to finish, without any spoken dialogue.

Imbroglio

Chaos and confusion during an operatic scene, created by diversity of rhythm and melody.

Intermezzo

A short musical entertainment between acts.

Libretto

Italian for 'little book', the text accompanying the music.

Maestro

A courtesy title given conductors, composers and directors. Italian for 'Master'.

Masque

A blending of music, poetry, song and dance.

Mezzo Soprano

The range of a female voice between the highest (soprano) and the lowest (contralto).

Opera Buffa

Comic opera. It's opposite is Opera Seria.

Opera Seria

An Italian musical term which refers to the noble and 'serious' style of Italian Opera.

Operetta

Light-hearted musical entertainment containing dance, spoken dialogue and practical jokes. A musical.

Opus

A single work or composition.

Oratorio

A musical composition with religious, serious, or philosophical text for chorus, orchestra and soloists.

Overture

The instrumental introduction to the opera, usually containing extracts of the opera's themes.

Prima Donna

'First lady' or the female star of the opera.

Prompter

Sitting in a small box under the stage's apron, a prompter gives singers and choristers their vocal cues and provides assistance for any on-stage memory lapses.

Soprano

The highest female voice.

Supernumerary

A non-singing performer.

Surtitles

Electronically generated translations of the words sung during a performance into English. Screens sit above the stage.

Tenor

The highest male voice.

Trouser Role

A male character sung by a woman, usually a mezzo soprano.

Vibrato

The wavering tone added by a singer while sustaining a note.