A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Opéra, Grand

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A Dictionary of Music and Musicians
edited by George Grove

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From volume 2 of the work.

1767430A Dictionary of Music and Musicians — Opéra, GrandGeorge GroveWilliam Smyth Rockstro

OPÉRA, GRAND. 1. A French Opera, sung throughout, with the accompaniment of the full Orchestra, to the entire exclusion of spoken dialogue. The finest examples we possess are, Rossini's 'Guillaume Tell,' Cherubini's 'Les Abencerrages,' and Spontini's 'La Vestale': the most popular are, Meyerbeer's 'Robert le Diable,' 'Les Huguenots,' and 'Le Prophète.' [See Opera, 19th Period, vol. ii. p. 525.]

2. A magnificent Theatre, in Paris, near the Boulevard des Capucines (opposite to the Rue de la Paix), devoted to the performance of Grands Opéras. [See Academie de Musique.]

[ W. S. R. ]