A Trip to the Opera

                 Have you ever seen an opera?  Have you heard any of its beautiful music?  You have probably heard opera music, but may not have known where it came from.
                 The newspaper talked with the artistic director of the Lyric Opera in Kansas City, Mo., to learn more about this musical art.
What is an opera?
                 An opera (AH-pur-uh) tells a story through songs.  The singing id the most important part of an opeera.
                 In opera, many different art forms come together.  Acting, the creation of sets (or stage scenery), writing, singing, dancing, instrumental music, costumes and lighting all join to create one great work of art.
Opera or musical?
                 Operas and musicals both tell a big part of the story with music.  In opera, the music is much more important than the story.
                 Singers in musicals usually perform with a microphone.  Opera singers rarely use one.
                 In musicals, the orchestras are usually small, with fewer than 10 to 20 instruments.  They might use electronic instruments.  In opera, there might be 40 to 100 instruments.  These instruments are usually not electronic.
                 Opera singers must project, or send out, their voices so they are heard without a microphone and along with the orchestra.  This changes the color, or tone, of their singing.
Words and music
                 In many opereas, every single line is sung.  There are also some operas where performers speak during conversations, just like in musicals.
                 An aria (AHR-ee-uh) is a beautiful operasong.  Arias create emotions, or feelings, that cannot be expressed through words alone.