What is the Difference Between Opera and Musical?

The main differences between opera and musical theatre can be summarized in terms of singing style, dialogue, orchestration, and voice types:

1. Singing Style: Opera primarily employs a "classical" singing style that has remained virtually unchanged since its inception, while musical theatre singing evolves based on popular music.
2. Dialogue: In opera, the story is primarily told through singing, with little to no spoken dialogue, whereas musical theatre intersperses songs with spoken dialogue.
3. Orchestration: Opera typically employs a large orchestra with strings as the primary instruments, while musical theatre uses an orchestra or band with piano as the primary instrument.
4. Voice Types: Opera singers often use more vibrato and are required to project their voices over the orchestra without amplification, as opera predates the use of microphones. In contrast, musical theatre singers often use microphones to be heard over a loud band or orchestra.

These differences in style, dialogue, orchestration, and voice types result in distinct experiences for the audience. Opera tends to focus more on the music and the singing, while musical theatre emphasizes the story and the characters.

Comparative Table: Opera vs Musical

Here is a table summarizing the main differences between opera and musical:

Opera and musical both involve music, singing, and acting, but they differ in their styles, storytelling techniques, and the use of music and language. Opera is a classical form that originated in Italy in the 16th century, with singing being the primary form of storytelling. In contrast, musicals are a more contemporary form that originated in the United States in the late 19th century, featuring a mix of spoken dialogue and songs, with a focus on popular music genres.