Thank God for the L. A. Opera, they’ve developed a blog that contains opera basics. You can read it in part here but please visit their site for the rest.
If you are new to a certain performance, or just want to come prepared, we suggest you read a synopsis or study guide of the opera before you attend. Also, we do not expect you to learn a new language for the performance. All performances will have English supertitles projected above the stage so that you can follow along.
Opera Attire:
Although you can dress up or dress down, most opera-goers you’ll see will be wearing business attire.
Arrive on Time:
Performances start promptly. Be sure you allow enough time for traffic and parking. Latecomers and those who exit during the performance cannot be admitted to the auditorium until an appropriate interval.
During The Opera:
Out of respect for the other opera-goers, please don’t whisper, talk, eat, or open candy wrappers. It’s also important to turn your cell phone and other electronic devices off. Please note that no photography or recording of any kind is permitted. Be sure to stay through the bows, rather than rushing off early and disturbing the other patrons.
Below you’ll find some of the more commonly used terms in the world of opera:
A capella. [ah kah-peh-lah] (Italian) Literally, “in the chapel.” Choral music sung without instrumental accompaniment.
Act. One of the main divisions of a drama, opera or ballet, usually completing a part of the action and often having a climax of its own.
Adagio/Adagietto. [ah-dah-jee-oh; ah dah-jee-eh-toh] (Italian) “Slowly.” Indicates a slow tempo. Adagietto is also a slow tempo, but not as slow as adagio.
Allegro/Allegretto. [ah-lay-groh; ah-lay-greh-toh] (Italian) “Merry,” “cheerful.” Indicates a fast tempo. Allegretto is slightly slower than allegro and implies a lighter style.
Andante/Andantino. [ahn-dahn-tay; ahn-dahn-tee-noh] (Italian) From the verb andare, “to walk.” Implies a moderate, “walking” tempo. Similarly, andantino (the diminutive of andante) could imply a tempo either faster or slower than andante.
Aria. [ah-ree-ah] A song sung by one person. In Italian, aria means “air,” “style,” “manner.” The aria had a central place in early opera and throughout operatic history, arias have been used to highlight an emotional state of mind and accentuate the main characters.
Baritone. The most common category of the male voice; lower than a tenor, but higher than a bass. Baritones were more commonly used in during the Romantic opera era.
Bass. The lowest male voice. Many bass roles are associated with characters of authority or comedy.
Brava. “Well done” in Italian. Audiences say this to a female artist to express their appreciation.
Bravo. “Well done” in Italian. Audiences say this to a male artist to express their appreciation.
Bravi. “Well done” in Italian. Audiences say this a group of performers to express their appreciation.
Buffa. Exaggerated comedic opera. From the Latin bufo meaning toad and from the Italian Buffone, which were inflated gloves that actors used to exchange comic blows on the stage.
Chorus. A group of singers usually divided into sections based on vocal range. The chorus was originally an ancient Greek practice of underscoring portions of the drama through music. The chorus is often used for crowd scenes and to play minor characters.
Composer. The person who writes the vocal and/or orchestral music (score).
Conductor. The person in charge of all the musical aspects of an opera; both orchestrally and vocally.
Costumes. The clothing worn on stage by the performers. Costumes can be used to reflect the personality of a character, the historical time period, country of origin or social ranking.
Designers. The people who create the sets, costumes, make-up, wigs and lighting for the opera performance.
Dynamics. The degrees of volume (loudness and softness) in music. Also the words, abbreviations, and symbols used to indicate degrees of volume. Piano (soft) and forte (loud) are most common.
Duet. Two people singing together.
Finale. The ending segment of an act or scene.
