music drama

noun

1. an opera having more or less continuous musical and dramatic activity without arias, recitatives, or ensembles.

music drama

noun

1. an opera in which the musical and dramatic elements are of equal importance and strongly interfused
2. the genre of such operas

Word History and Origins

Origin of music drama¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Word History and Origins

Origin of music drama¹

C19: translation of German Musikdrama, coined by Wagner to describe his later operas

Example Sentences

"Washington," the new American music-drama, was given for the second time, with the same cast as before.

From Project Gutenberg

All the essays on music and on drama and on the music-drama are as much an expression of himself as his music-dramas.

From Project Gutenberg

The opening chapter, which gives the famous picture of the Heath, is like an overture to a great music-drama.

From Project Gutenberg

This unpretentious spot of Italian soil was to prove the cradle of the revolutioniser of Italy's national music-drama.

From Project Gutenberg

The new music drama, combining as it does principles from all the arts is all-demanding of its interpreters.

From Project Gutenberg