PARTS OF THE OPERA

OVERTURE 

It is the first part of an opera. It's like an instrumental introduction. It is performed before the action starts, sometimes with the curtain down.

• Verdi - La Traviata (overture)
• Rossini - William Tell (overture)
• Rossini - El barbero de Sevilla (Obertura)

SUNG PARTS

Sung parts in an opera are the recitatives and the arias:

RECITATIVE
The word 'recitative' comes from 'recite' or 'recitate' (recitar). The recitatives are sung quickly. In fact, it's half spoken half sung. The characters dialogue.

• Monteverdi - Messenger duo (L'Orfeo)
• Mozart - La ci darem la mano (Don Giovanni)
• Mozart - The marriage of Figaro
• Donizetti - Tombi degli avi miei (Lucia di Lamermoor)

ARIAS 
Arias are the most important parts in an opera. Singers show their abilities

• Leocavallo - Vesti la giubba (Il Pagliacci) 
• Puccini  - O mio babbino caro (Gianni Schicchi)
• Donizetti - Una furtiva lagrima (L'elisir d'amore)
• Purcell - Dido's lament

CHORUS 
Sung parts sung by a choir.

• Verdi - Va pensiero (Nabucco)

INSTRUMENTAL PARTS

INTERLUDES and INTERMEZZOS

• Mascagni - Cavalleria rusticana - Intermezzo