Understanding the

Opera and the Reader’s

Theater
 OPERA
An opera is a theatrical piece that tells a story totally through
music. It consists of recitatives which provide the narrative plot line
and elaborate chorus singing, along with duets and arias which are
the parts mostly remembered.
It is obtained from the Latin word “operari” meaning “to work”,
the style evolved in Italy around 1600s. In the mid-18th century, the
focus shifted to both strong story and exquisite singing. Emotion is a
vital quality, a trait carried over to “soap operas”.
 One of the most
popular operas is
“The Ring of the Der Ring Des Nibelungen
Nibelung”, a cycle of
four operas by
Richard Wagner.
The operas included in the cycle are:
• The Rhine Gold (1869)
• The Valkyrie (1870)
• Siegfried (1871)
• Twilight of the Gods (1874)

The four operas have continuous plot based on ancient legend of

Siegfried (the hero in Nibelungenlied, the great warrior who slain
the dragon Fafnir).
 A readers theater is a presentation of
readers reading a script adapted from
literature. It requires no sets, costumes,
props, or memorized lines.
READERS Instead of acting out literature as in a

THEATRE play, the performer’s goal is to read the

script aloud effectively, enabling the
audience to visualize the action.
Performers bring the text to life by
using voice projection, facial expression,
and minimal gestures.