comic operas
Funny sung shows
Comic operas are operas with humorous plots, spoken dialogue between musical numbers, and typically happy endings.
The genre emerged in the 18th century as a lighter alternative to serious opera, with Mozart's *The Marriage of Figaro* and Rossini's *The Barber of Seville* among the most celebrated examples.
Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas represent the English tradition: We're performing a comic opera this spring.
- ariaOperatic solo piece
- overtureIntroductory orchestral piece
- sopranoHighest female voice range
- baritoneMid-range male voice
- duetPiece for two
libretto · orchestra · Gilbert and Sullivan · finale · witty dialogue · stage business · Mikado · Pirates of Penzance · HMS Pinafore · performances · score · farce · musicals · pastiches · satire · travesty · musical theatre · tenor
- Comedy Musicfunny songs, novelty songs, parody songs, novelty song, Weird Al
- Gilbert and SullivanW.S. Gilbert, Gilbert, Sullivan, The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore