Opera buffa is best described as which?

• A. Humorous and light-hearted plots with spoken dialogue and prominent orchestral parts
• B. Solely through-composed with no spoken dialogue
• C. Serious tragic subjects drawn from classical myths
• D. No instrument use in performance

Answer: (A)

Opera buffa centers on humorous, everyday-life situations with characters you might meet in daily life, and it brings the action forward with spoken dialogue interspersed with sung passages. This combination of light-hearted plots, accessible, witty characters, and a lively orchestral accompaniment is what gives buffa its distinct, energetic feel. The use of spoken dialogue differentiates it from through-composed opera, where everything is sung, and the often serious, myth-inspired themes of opera seria. So the description that matches buffa best is about humorous plots with spoken dialogue and a prominent orchestral presence.