9781422274422

The libretto of an operetta is unlike an opera in that it is not entirely sung. In an opera, for instance, the singers move effortlessly from one musical number to the next. In an operetta, there may be some periods of dialogue between the aria and the chorus. There may be introductions to songs, too, which allows the audience to regather their attention on the upcoming piece. Like in an opera, the operetta has a full pit orchestra, which is below the stage and in front of the audience. Singers are classically trained in opera, including singers with the ranges of

During the nineteenth century, the German composer Richard Wagner created epic operas based on German mythology. His use of the leitmotif has been widely copied in music for stage and screen.

12

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs