An Opera is a type of musical theater in which stories are primarily driven by singers, who take on character roles. Usually involving the combined product of a composer and a writer, relations between characters are conveyed musically, with little to no spoken dialogue, unlike other forms of theater. In addition to singing, often accompanied by an orchestral composition, an opera may also involve a dancing performance, requiring costume and set design. Encompassing a number of dramatic genres, the art form has seen great recognition in the Republic of La Rossa, where it tends to be seen in a highly sophisticated light and as the most popular form of theatrical entertainment on the island. Although traditionally performed in theater houses, the rise of the radio has led to a great popularization of opera works, as recordings are broadcast every night on Radiovision La Rossa for the enjoyment of the public. Daily listenership to the usual nightly program is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.
Radio operas, works created specifically for the radio, have risen in popularity, owing to their relative low cost of production compared to live stage plays. However, as they tend to be seen as mass entertainment, few are considered to be worthy of live productions following their original broadcasts. Some radio operas, such as So Swept the Mountain Wind, have seen film releases following the establishment of a visual signal on the broadcasting airwaves, although this is far from the standard. For the sake of the growing television audience, related footage, usually consisting of nature or city shots, tends to accompany the opera.
