A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Opéra, Grand

OPÉRA, GRAND. 1. A French Opera, sung throughout, with the accompaniment of the full Orchestra, to the entire exclusion of spoken dialogue. The finest examples we possess are, Rossini's 'Guillaume Tell,' Cherubini's 'Les Abencerrages,' and Spontini's 'La Vestale': the most popular are, Meyerbeer's 'Robert le Diable,' 'Les Huguenots,' and 'Le Prophète.' [See Opera, 19th Period, vol. ii. p. 525.]

2. A magnificent Theatre, in Paris, near the Boulevard des Capucines (opposite to the Rue de la Paix), devoted to the performance of Grands Opéras. [See Academie de Musique.]

[ W. S. R. ]