Opera seria

Opera seria
Opera Op"er*a ([o^]p"[~e]r*[.a]), n. [It., fr. opera work, composition, opposed to an improvisation, fr. L. opera pains, work, fr. opus, operis, work, labor: cf. F. op['e]ra. See {Operate}.] 1. A drama, either tragic or comic, of which music forms an essential part; a drama wholly or mostly sung, consisting of recitative, arias, choruses, duets, trios, etc., with orchestral accompaniment, preludes, and interludes, together with appropriate costumes, scenery, and action; a lyric drama. [1913 Webster]

2. The score of a musical drama, either written or in print; a play set to music. [1913 Webster]

3. The house where operas are exhibited. [1913 Webster]

{Op['e]ra bouffe} [F. op['e]ra opera + bouffe comic, It. buffo], {Opera buffa} [It.], light, farcical, burlesque opera.

{Opera box}, a partially inclosed portion of the auditorium of an opera house for the use of a small private party.

{Op['e]ra comique} [F.], comic or humorous opera.

{Opera flannel}, a light flannel, highly finished. --Knight.

{Opera girl} or {Opera girls} (Bot.), an East Indian plant ({Mantisia saltatoria}) of the Ginger family, sometimes seen in hothouses. It has curious flowers which have some resemblance to a ballet dancer, whence the popular name. Called also {dancing girls}.

{Opera glass}, a short telescope with concave eye lenses of low power, usually made double, that is, with a tube and set of glasses for each eye; a lorgnette; -- so called because adapted for use at the opera, theater, etc.

{Opera hat}, a gentleman's folding hat.

{Opera house}, specifically, a theater devoted to the performance of operas.

{Opera seria} [It.], serious or tragic opera; grand opera. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Ópera seria — es un término musical italiano que remite al estilo noble y serio de la ópera italiana que predominaba en Europa aproximadamente entre los años 1720 y 1770. El único rival popular de la opera seria era la opera buffa, el subgénero cómico sobre el …   Wikipedia Español

  • Opéra seria — Opera seria L’opera seria est un opéra de tradition et de langue italienne. Sont caractère est noble et « sérieux » ce qui l’oppose à l opéra bouffe, de caractère comique et enjoué, héritier de la tradition de la commedia dell arte.… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • opera seria — ● opera seria nom masculin invariable (mot italien) Opéra dramatique, par opposition à l opéra bouffe. (On dit aussi grand opéra ou opéra sérieux.) …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • opera seria — [ō̂′pe rä se′rē ä; ] E [ äp΄ə rə ser′ē ə, äp′ər əsir′ē ə] n. [It, serious opera] 18th cent. opera characterized by the stylized treatment of mythological or classical subjects and the extensive use of arias …   English World dictionary

  • Opera seria — A caricature of a performance of Handel s Flavio, featuring three of the best known opera seria singers of their day: Senesino on the left, diva Francesca Cuzzoni in the centre, and art loving castrato Gaetano Berenstadt on the right. Opera seria …   Wikipedia

  • Opera seria — Karikatur einer Aufführung von Händels Flavio: drei der damals berühmtesten Opernsänger : Senesino links, die Diva Francesca Cuzzoni in der Mitte und rechts Gaetano Berenstadt . Opera seria (Plural: „opere serie“; auch „ …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Opera seria — L’opera seria est un opéra de tradition et de langue italienne pratiqué au XVIIIe siècle. Son caractère est noble et « sérieux » ce qui l’oppose à l opéra bouffe, de caractère comique et enjoué, héritier de la tradition de la… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • opera seria — /op euhr euh sear ee euh, op reuh/; It. /aw pe rddah se rddyah/, pl. opera serias, operas seria, It. opere serie /aw pe rdde se rddye/. Italian dramatic opera of the 18th century based typically on a classical subject and characterized by… …   Universalium

  • Opera seria — Ope|ra se|ria 〈f.; , Ope|re se|rie [ rie:]; Mus.〉 ernste Oper [ital.] * * * Opera seria   [italienisch »ernste Oper«] die, /...re. ..ri|e, die aus der venezianischen Operntradition hervorgegangene und im 18. Jahrhundert besonders von der… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • opera seria —    (op eh rah SEH ree ah) [Italian] An 18th century dramatic or serious Italian opera, usually in three acts; Mozart’s Idomeneo is an example.    The opera seria of the early 1600s was an attempt to revive the spirit of Greek tragedy …   Dictionary of foreign words and phrases

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