Opera and Operetta

Sadie (1980, p.6) would explain the Opera as 'perhaps the most elaborate of art forms' because it explores so many different elements to create a 'complete art work'. Opera's are of the classical genre and grew in popularity in the 1920's and 1930's and were often in theatrical settings. The Opera had high society connotations due to the audience the Opera would receive due to it being fairly expensive. It had themes similar to that found in Shakespeare's plays and to match this it had exaggerated characters and was very over dramatic in terms of plot,singing and acting. There are two different types of song in an Opera. The first being an recitative which is just part of telling the story and then an Aria which is there to make an important point and mark a moment but doesn't really move the plot forward. If you look at the song below, you can hear how much of a recitative mimics the speech through the rhythms used but just more melodic. It is especially clear in this song 'Mr Swallow' from the opera Peter Grimes as they talk over each other and also use the technique 'tilting the voice' to give a sob quality to the song. 

(Bob Kingston 2010)

Operetta's were also very popular in the 1920's and 1930's and were said to be the birth of Musical Theatre. It was a lighter version of genre not only in terms of the music but also in terms of subject matter. It was more humanistic and natural and explored everyday. Due to these being popular after the first World War they were often about hope,romance,nostalgia and adventure to help them dream about a better place. This took them from a sorrowful place after lots of death and destruction and allowed them an escape from this.Operetta's often were a fusion of lots of different styles.  Below you can see a song from the popular musical The Student Prince and here it communicates how Operetta's were more comedic and about everyday situations, issues or things.

 

(essgee007 2010)

Sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate between Operetta's and Opera's because they are often very similar. 'Most operettas can be described as light operas with acting, whereas most musicals are closer to being plays with singing.' (New World Encylopedia 2015)  and this is the difference between Operetta's and Musicals.