Operatic Form

Select all of the building blocks of operatic form

• Recitative

• Aria

• Chorus

• Grand Style

The beginning of the opera is preceded by an instrumental piece called the overture. What purpose does this overture serve?

• Give the audience time to talk before the show.

• Introduce main musical themes and ideas.

• Tel the whole story in musical form.

Opera is divided into scenes just like plays in theatre. True or False?

• True

• False

Recitative serves what function?

• Drive the drama forward through sung dialogue

• Tell the inner thoughts of individual characters.

• Climax the drama.

An Aria serves which function?

• Relate the inner thoughts of characters in an extended sung monologue.

• Tell the story through sung dialogue.

• Climax the drama.

Quartets and Duets serve which dramatic function?

• Climax the drama.

• Sung monologue

• Sung dialogue