Ballad Opera was a form of 18th century English entertainment that consisted of spoken dialogue interspersed with musical numbers drawn from popular ballads, folk songs, and other plays. Originating in England during the 18th century, Ballad operas allowed both men and women to perform, unlike Greek theater which only featured male actors. The first and most famous Ballad opera was The Beggar's Opera from 1728, which became wildly popular and led to many similar works being produced.

1. -222885146050<br />Ballad Opera - A form of 18th century English operatic entertainment, which consisted of spoken dialogue and musical numbers from popular music sources, such as ballads, folk songs, and songs from other plays. <br />-17335570485Originating during the 18th century, Ballad opera started in England.<br />.<br />Ballad operas contained dialogues, duets in which the vocalists sang lines, alternately then joined together for the last lines – trios, vaudevilles in which three to four singers alternated verses, choruses, and finales that sometimes combined choruses with dances.<br />-162560552450Although women were sometimes able to attend Greek theatres there were no female actors as this was not allowed, therefore they were consisting solely of male actors, female parts were performed by a male. Whereas in a Ballad Opera men and women were able to perform.<br />Also as Greek theatre consisted of dialogue and singing, when Ballad Opera was introduced, they were solely sung.<br />The first and most famous Ballad opera performed and ‘The Beggar's Opera’ 1728 by John Gay and J.C. Pepusch which became wildly popular and led to numerous similar works such as Flora and The Devil to Pay. <br />The audience for Ballad opera, unlike regular opera's, you would mainly get middle class to upper class people, and most of the time you would see the wealthier families seated.<br />Ballad operas were developed for English stage entertainment, and partly in opposition to the Italian domination of the London operatic scene.<br />