There is a very important distinction that must be made. Musicals and opera are not the same thing. Ever.

A musical has dialogue with musical numbers throughout. An opera is sung all the way through. Straight dialogue in opera is called recitative and will minor orchestral accompaniment. Let’s review….a musical….talk…talk….talk….SONG!….talk….talk….SONG!….SONG!….I hope this is clear.

An opera…..singing…singing….singing….singing….singing….all with orchestral accompaniment. If you have sing Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I, CATS, Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line, you have seen musical theatre NOT opera.

Do not try to impress your friends with your knowledge of opera because you have seen The Lion King five times. You have still not seen an opera.

To put this in perspective, if you are a huge football fan and somebody refers to quarters as INNINGS your skin will crawl because you are so annoyed. Same thing happens when someone thinks a musical is an opera.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, despite his many talents, has never composed an opera. This includes Phantom of the Opera which is a musical.