This dramatic form is made up of a combination of spoken dialogue and popular ballads. Gay's opera is the first ballad opera of its kind.
A form of English operatic entertainment made popular in the early 18th century, combining spoken dialogue, popular tunes and dances. The most typical example is John Gay’s The Beggars Opera. Ballad opera was particularly popular in Dublin. Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio (which Opera Pacific will perform in January of 2003) is considered a “singspiel†which is a German form of ballad opera. Modern operas that are considered part of this genre include Vaughan William’s Hugh the Drover, and Weill’s The Three Penney Opera.
A popular eighteenth-century English dramatic form characterized by spoken dialogue on topical themes interspersed with popular folk songs.
English comic opera, usually featuring spoken dialogue alternating with songs set to popular tunes; also called dialogue opera.
Combines spoken dialogue with well-known vocal tunes and dances. Popular in England in early 18th century.
a form of English opera made popular in the early 18th century, combining spoken dialogue and well known vocal tunes and dances.
A form of 18th century English operatic entertainment that consisted of spoken dialogue and musical numbers from popular music sources such as ballads, folk songs, and songs from other plays. The first example was The Beggar's Opera (1728) by John Gay, with music arranged by J. Pepusch. It was a satire of the Italian opera seria popular in London at the time.
Ballad opera is a genre of 18th century English stage entertainment. Essentially, the form is very closely equivalent to the modern musical or revue. The connection with the legitimate opera of the time is mainly the degree to which ballad operas mocked operatic convention.