A play that is sung. In opera, singing is the way characters express themselves. ‘Opera’ is the Latin word for ‘opus’. Opera involves many different arts; singing, acting, orchestral playing, scenic artistry, costume design, lighting, and dance. Opera is acted out on a stage with performers in costumes, wigs and make-up. Virtually all operatic characters sing their lines, although there are exceptions where a role in an opera will be spoken or performed in pantomime.