opera

Everyday

1. An opera is a play in which the actors sing almost all the words, with an orchestra playing music. tree →
2. Opera is this kind of music and theatre in general. tree →
3. An opera house is the building where operas are performed. tree →
4. An opera box is a small private section of seats in a theatre, where people sit to watch the performance. tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons children learn that opera mixes singing, acting, costumes and an orchestra; famous composers include Mozart, Verdi and Puccini. In stories, going to the opera often shows something grand or fancy. The Sydney Opera House in Australia is a famous building. Phrases: «go to the opera», «opera singer», «soap opera» (a long TV drama series, not sung).

Examples

• We watched a short opera about a magic flute in music class. tree →
• The opera singer sang so loudly the whole hall rang. tree →
• My nan loves opera and plays it in the kitchen. tree →
• The Sydney Opera House has a roof shaped like sails. tree →
• In an opera, even the arguments are sung. tree →
• Our class wrote a tiny opera about a lost lunchbox. tree →
• Mum watches a soap opera every evening. tree →
• "At home," said she, "my windows must be my opera-box. tree →

Note

Countable: one opera, two operas. A «soap opera» is a TV drama, not real opera. Do not confuse with «Oprah» (a name). An opera is mostly sung; a musical mixes singing with ordinary spoken talk.