...it raises a question: What's the difference between an opera and a sung-through musical? "It's in English" is not an answer. Anybody? - walt crawford

Maybe the era in which is was originally produced, and/or the style of music? Because really, no, no difference except in current popularity. - Kirsten loves you

I thought about era, but new operas are being commissioned/performed. - walt crawford

(Not a real answer, more of an amusing anecdote.) Someone asked Sondheim about the difference between a musical and an opera: "It's about the expectation of the audience. When it's on Broadway people expect mediocre singing and good acting; when it's in an opera house people expect mediocre acting and good singing." http://www.quora.com/What-ar... - bentley

Elsewhere, someone called Les Mis a "pop opera," or "the bastard child of pop and opera." - bentley

I like the anecdote, and maybe that's the truth: There really is no difference except in setting audience expectations. (I'd say calling Les Mis "pop" anything is a bit off the mark, but...) The singing was generally very good, albeit in most cases without over-the-top tremolo and Drama. - walt crawford

Just looked through the cast bios; a handful of them are also in the local opera company. There's also the term "light opera" but there's precious little light about Les Mis... (well, OK, two major characters *do* survive, so I guess that counts). - walt crawford

Walt, I'll ask my niece, Jessica Sternfeld Shockley. She literally wrote the book "The Megamusical" about such things. The cover picture is from Les Miz.http://smile.amazon.com/Megamus... - m9m, Crone of FriendFeed

A book that I should read, probably. Thanks. - walt crawford

Walt here's your answer: Jessica Sternfeld Shockley Ah, a common question! Lots of answers but the main reason is venue. It's a musical because it ran on Broadway, 8 shows a week, not in an opera house 5 times in a year. Also, although a few of the voices in the show are sort of opera-light voices (like grown-up Cosette), they mostly sing in Broadway/pop style, not opera style. Totally different training. Opera singers would never belt. Broadway singers can't fill an opera house with no microphone. And, the key: it's a myth that operas are sung throughout and musicals have dialogue. Many, many operas have dialogue with songs, and many musicals (since the 1980s) are sung from beginning to end. Feel free to forward to your friend! - m9m, Crone of FriendFeed

Thanks. So it's not the piece itself, it's the casting and the venue. - walt crawford

(So I suddenly find myself thinking of opera singers who are also great belters and pop singers, but never mind... ) - walt crawford