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Musicals vs Operas

Mon, 10 Sept 2001, 12:39 am
Walter Plinge26 posts in thread
Just to kick-start this brand-spanking new section (thanks Granty!), I thought I'd pose the toughest question there is in this area..... just what the hell is the difference between a musical and an opera?

Given that we are all eargerly awaiting the arrival of "Les Miserables" at the Regal (some more eagerly than others though, I have to say), and that that production features opera-type dudes like David Dockery and Justin Freind right alongside your more musical-theatre-type broads like Amanda Chesterton and Gillian Binks, I was wondering where people drew the line.

Is "Les Mes" an opera? Is "Threepenny Opera" a musical? Or vice versa? Or neither?

Thoughts, people!



D.M.

RE: Tommy

Wed, 12 Sept 2001, 08:55 pm


Joe wrote:
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*‘Tommy’, to me, could be classified as an opera, if my memory serves me correctly, there is very little if any dialogue that is not set to music - in fact I think only the word "Tommy" is said without music?

Depends on the version you do. The original album as written by Pete Townshend is more of a concept album, similar to "Chess" in its construction, however the version tarted up for Broadway is definitely more of a musical format- dialogue, dances, etc.

Interestingly, these two albums are similar in construction- yet Chess is considered to be a musical (and has sod all dialogue) and Tommy is the "original rock opera".

Eliot

Thread (26 posts)

Musicals vs OperasWalter Plinge10 Sept 2001
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