opera
n. C / Un. a type of play where the actors sing all or most of their lines instead of speaking them. It usually involves a large orchestra and very powerful singing voices.
n. a dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists. The genre is typically characterized by elaborate costumes, scenery, and a libretto that is sung rather than spoken.
We are going to the opera to see a famous performance.
The city's historic opera house is famous for its incredible acoustics and grand red velvet curtains.
While some newcomers find the length of a traditional opera daunting, the emotional power of the final aria often justifies the hours of narrative buildup.
Borrowed from Italian opera. Doublet of oeuvre, opus, and ure.
From Latin opera, plural of opus.
Uncountable when referring to the art form; countable when referring to a specific musical work or a building.