Arias are the showstoppers of any opera. They are the pieces that have a defined beginning and end, and often demonstrate the performers well-refined singing skills. Wild applause and cries of Bravo will almost always follow a good aria. Needless to say, arias are taxing on the performers and they couldn t possibly sing with such gusto for two straight hours. The plot needs to move forward, however, and that is done through recitatives.
Recitatives are the sung dialogue of the opera.
This is the portion of the opera where many newcomers drift off. The performers will melodically speak back and forth with each other and at times appear to be screaming. There seems to be little rhythm or beat to these stretches of operatic dialogue. It is true that recitatives are never the focal point of the opera, but they serve as a transition, allowing performers to catch their breath before belting out another beautiful aria. Enjoying recitatives will take some patience, but just remember that there is always another aria on the way.