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: Musicals vs Operas

Fri, 21 Sept 2001, 07:00 pm

Walter Plinge

According to the New Grove Dictionary of Music, musical comedies, musical plays and musicals are defined thus: 'the chief form of popular musical theatre in the English-speaking world during the twentieth century. Musical comedy, which developed from comic opera and burlesque in London during the 1890s, consists of a loose plot combing comic and romantic interest and a musical score of catchy songs, ensembles and dances... The term 'musical play' indicates a work with a more substancial plot and musical score, as in Leonard Bernstein's 'West Side Story'. The term 'musical' has become current since WWII to cover the two forms... There is no precise or internationally consistent destinction between musical comedy and operetta, but the latter term usually indicates an older-style work with a romantic, Ruritanian (I do not have a dictionary at hand) story and a score using 19th Century European musical styles'. Groves V.12, p. 815. Defining opera seems a more difficult task. However Groves does suggest that 'opera is a union of music, drama and spectacle... though normally with music playing a dominant role'. Groves V.13, pp.545-46.

Thread (26 posts)

Threaded Flat

Musicals vs Operas— Walter Plinge10 Sept 2001

RE: Musicals vs Operas— Amanda Chesterton10 Sept 2001
- RE: Musicals vs Operas— The Review Master10 Sept 2001
- RE: Musicals vs Operas— Amanda10 Sept 2001
- RE: Musicals vs Operas— Walter Plinge13 Sept 2001
RE: Musicals vs Operas— James Harley10 Sept 2001
- RE: Musicals vs Operas— Walter Plinge10 Sept 2001
- RE: Musicals vs Operas— Eliot McCann10 Sept 2001
  - RE: Sweeney an Opera?— Grant Malcolm11 Sept 2001
    - RE: Sweeney an Opera?— Walter Plinge12 Sept 2001
      - ···
        RE: Sweeney an Opera?— Grant Malcolm12 Sept 2001
        ···
        RE: Sweeney an Opera?— Walter Plinge12 Sept 2001
        ···
        RE: Tommy— JoeMc12 Sept 2001
        ···
        RE: Tommy— Eliot McCann12 Sept 2001
    - RE: Sweeney an Opera?— Walter Plinge15 Sept 2001
      - ···
        RE: Sweeney an Opera?— JoeMc15 Sept 2001
        ···
        RE: Sweeney reviewed— Grant Malcolm25 Sept 2001
- RE: Musicals vs Operas— Walter Plinge13 Sept 2001
  - RE: Musicals vs Operas— crgwllms16 Sept 2001
RE: Now I know!— Walter Plinge21 Sept 2001
RE: Musicals vs Operas— Walter Plinge21 Sept 2001
- RE: Musicals vs Operas— Walter Plinge28 Sept 2001
MORE on Musicals vs Operas!— Walter Plinge27 Sept 2001
- RE: MORE on Musicals vs Operas!— Walter Plinge28 Sept 2001
  - RE: Moron Musicals vs Operas!— crgwllms2 Oct 2001
    - Musicals and Opera— Walter Plinge5 Sept 2002

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