Drama Glossary

“from the head”; an aria in which the first part is repeated, the singer being expected to add ornamentation in the repeated section.

A gradual decrease in volume, commonly used in vocal or instrumental music to create emotional subtlety or finality in performance.

A combination of tones that creates tension or a lack of harmony, often used for dramatic effect.

An opera genre blending serious and comic elements, commonly used by Mozart and other classical composers.

The variations in loudness and softness in speech or music, often used to convey emotion.

A casting convention where a performer plays a role of the opposite gender, especially common in opera and classical theatre.

An additional performance or musical number requested by the audience after the conclusion of a show.

Music or a scene presented between the acts of a play or opera.

A German vocal classification system used in opera to categorize voice types and suitable roles.

A musical composition with free form and structure, often incorporating multiple themes or variations.

An operatic embellishment involving fast, ornamental passages sung with agility.

A contrapuntal musical form with interweaving melodic lines, used in complex musical theatre or operatic compositions.