Opera or Musical?

[yisab...@my-deja.com]

What defines a theatrical production as "musical" or "opera?" My friends
and I are debating the point.

I called "Les Miserables" a mini-opera because of the style of staging
and music, but also because I recall spoken dialogue. They say it's a
musical if there is any spoken dialogue. Yet I seem to recall spoken
dialogue in several operas I've attended, albeit brief, such as Wozeck.

Finally, one of them is appearing in an original production of Romeo and
Juliet this month in San Jose, which features Shakespeare's prose set to
an original music score, which is being billed as a musical for the same
reason: it contains spoken dialogue.

Opinions?

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