Opera is an art form that tells a story through music and singing. It is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. The word "opera" comes from the Italian word "opera," which means "work". Unlike musicals, opera singers do not use microphones to amplify their voices, and the music, played by the orchestra, is completely live. Operas are often based on pre-existing works, such as novels or plays.
The earliest Italian operas were called "favola in musica" (fable in music) and "dramma per musica" (drama by means of music) . The unique thing about opera is the use of music to convey an entire story/plot. This is based on the feeling that music can communicate people’s reactions and emotions better than words (read or spoken) or pictures.
Opera has a rich and fascinating history and is considered by many to be the most complete art form, combining all of the elements of art, words, music, drama, and dance. Opera is a key part of the Western classical music tradition. The 19th century saw the rise of the continuous music drama. The ultimate Classical opera composer was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Opera is not just an art form, but also the name of an internet browser developed by Opera Software.
