What is the difference between an opera and a musical?

Question

At first it seemed obvious to me, but Operas like the Gilbert and Sulliven operas seem more like musicals while musicals like Phantom of the Opera seem closer to opera.

Answer 1

There isn't much difference. Musicals, like the Sound of Music where there is speaking and singing can be considered operettas, ones like Phantom and Les Miz' where there is constant music and singing are by definition operas. Think of it this way operettas have speaking (the music stops) operas are sung all the way through.

Answer 2

The difference between the two is not always that clear. Originally, opera was entirely sung. In the 18th century the English "Ballad Opera" (e.g. "The Beggar's Opera") and German "Singspiel" (e.g. Mozart's "The Magic Flute") evolved, and they had spoken dialogue between musical numbers. In the 18th century operetta traditions were developed in English, French, and German.

The Gilbert and Sullivan works are actually operettas, and are, of course, quite close to musical theatre. The operettas of Johann Strauss, Franz Lehar, and others are considered to be influential on the early musicals.

There are some works that are hard to categorize. Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, for instance, is very "operatic" and is sometimes done by opera companies. Bernstein's Candide went for years without being performed very often because it was too much like an opera for Broadway, and too much like a musical for the opera houses.

There have even been "rock operas" like Jesus Christ Superstar, and Tommy. So called because virtually all of the dialogue was sung.

Good question!

Answer 3

They require very different kinds of singing for the first part. Musical singing is a lot more like pop singing, while opera singing is a lot more like choir singing. Opera tends to be mostly singing, and musicals have more acting. Another large difference, is that (for the most part) musicals use mics, and operas use only their voice.

Answer 4

As a general rule...

Musicals will have more spoken dialogue, while operas typically contain very little spoken dialogue.

Musicals are almost always performed in the native language of the audience. Not typically so with opera.

Answer 5

In Opera, the primary expression is through music. All lines are sung with drama as the secondary expression.

In Musicals, the primary expression is through drama. Lines are spoken with music being used to emphasize drama.

I personally love both!

Answer 6

Opera -- Normally fully sung, also has a more simple story line

Musical -- Normally full-on acting with music, more complex story line

Answer 7

An opera is usually based in classical music, an a musical is based in popular music.

Answer 8

an opera is a play with only singing. and and musical is a play with both singing and talking.

Answer 9

aswell opera traditionaly has a nerrorator who sings the nerroration in a plain form called a recitative