Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work (called an opera), which combines a text (called a libretto) and a musical score.
While the scale of opera can be larger or smaller—there are many different genres of opera—performance typically involves different types of artist (singers, instrumentalists and often dancers and actors) and technical staff.
Italian, German, French, English, and Russian works are performed worldwide in their original languages, and artists travel from country to country performing.
[2] The following is a list of articles on general opera topics: Operas have been written in a diversity of languages with many countries or regions developing their own operatic style, tradition and history.
[3] Over the centuries, the original form of opera, as established by Claudio Monteverdi and his contemporaries, has diversified into distinct and recognisable genres, in addition to the national traditions listed above.