• Aria – a musical piece in an opera for one singer
• Baritone – a man’s voice with a middle range; in operas they usually play the parts of villains, companions, and occasionally heroes
• Bass -   a man’s voice with the lowest range; in operas they usually play kings, priests, and villains
• Bel canto – an Italian style of opera that means “beautiful singing”
• Coloratura – a style of singing that’s usually fast, high, and with lots of notes
• Contralto (or Alto) –  a woman’s voice with the lowest range; in operas they usually play the parts of old women, witches, and comic characters
• Countertenor -  a man’s voice with the highest range; usually found in early operas written in the 1600s and 1700s
• Duet – a musical piece in an opera for two singers
• Libretto – the words to an opera
• Mezzo-Soprano – a woman’s voice with a middle range; in operas they usually play the parts of mothers, older women, young men, or boys.
• Overture – Music played by the orchestra before an opera begins
• Quartet – a musical piece in an opera for four singers
• Quintet – a musical piece in an opera for five singers
• Recitative – dialogue that is sung before an aria that imitates regular speaking
• Score – a printed sheet with the words and music of the opera
• Soprano – a woman’s voice with the highest range; in operas they usually play the heroine
• Synopsis – the story of the opera
• Tenor – a man’s voice with a high range; in operas they usually play the hero
• Trio – a musical piece in an opera for three singers

 Characters
 Tamino – a young prince who falls in love with Pamina and makes it his mission to save her from her captors. 

Pamina – daughter of the Queen of the Night; being held captive by Sarastro.

Papageno – bird catcher of the Queen of the Night who wishes nothing more than to catch a wife along with his birds.

Papagena – Papageno’s dream come true

Queen of the Night – mother of Pamina, and ruler over the darkness

3 Ladies – ladies in waiting to Queen of the Night

Sarastro – Priest of the Sun, enemy of the Queen

Monostatos – head slave of Sarastro determined to keep the captive Pamina for himself

3 Spirits – messengers to Tamino and Pamina