grand opera

American  

noun

1. a serious, usually tragic, opera in which most of the text is set to music.

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grand opera British  

noun

1. an opera that has a serious plot and is entirely in musical form, with no spoken dialogue

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Etymology

Origin of grand opera

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Purely as entertainment, it is inert; the story, about a family in mourning, features histrionics worthy of grand opera and a level of rudeness that could peel paint.

From The Wall Street Journal

An impossible composer to pin down, Machover has written a traditional grand opera such as “Resurrection,” based on Tolstoy’s novel, and “Brain Opera,” which is just that, using electrodes on your noggin.

From Los Angeles Times

Here were all the trappings of grand opera and none of the substance.

From Los Angeles Times

Then again, not much opera was actually presented in these grand opera houses, rather Gilbert and Sullivan, music revues of all sorts and straight theater.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the grandest of grand operas, “Turandot” is a demanding enterprise.

From Los Angeles Times