oratorio

noun or·a·to·rio \ ˌȯr-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-ˌō , ˌär- \

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

Definition of oratorio

plural oratorios

: a lengthy choral work usually of a religious nature consisting chiefly of recitatives, arias, and choruses without action or scenery

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Recent Examples of oratorio from the Web

Media: Euronews The 35-minute oratorio combines the poignant plot with a cosmic concept of transformation.

— lawrence elizabeth knox, Houston Chronicle, "Houston Chamber Choir kindles a world of imagination," 11 Apr. 2018
Philly sounds, with subtitles What came out was a series of movements that music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin described as something between an oratorio, cantata, and opera, each with subtitles to give the listener bearings in time and place.

— david patrick stearns, Philly.com, "Philadelphia Orchestra's new oratorio wit' cheesesteaks was great fun at its Philly premiere," 6 Apr. 2018
Standing behind music stands on opposite sides of the podium, Kaufmann and Nylund sang their impassioned duet while facing the audience oratorio-style, and both of them relied heavily on their vocal scores.

— jeremy eichler, BostonGlobe.com, "The BSO offers Wagner’s ‘shivery and sweet infinity’," 6 Apr. 2018
The Handel oratorios have been lingua franca at Music of the Baroque from the earliest seasons of the Chicago ensemble under Thomas Wikman.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Yo-Yo Ma and friends prove their mastery in Brahms; MOB ventures rare Handel oratorio," 28 Feb. 2018
The oratorio, meanwhile, has a tumultuous history of its own.

— The Economist, "Peril on the sea, in art and music," 22 Mar. 2018
The hour-long oratorio is based on surgeon Richard Selzer’s book of essays of the same name, first published in 1974.

— leah garchik, San Francisco Chronicle, "Adopting lessons from the French Laundry for use at home," 28 Feb. 2018
The abridgment resulted in the loss of fully half the oratorio.

— special to the plain dealer, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Orchestra pulls off a save after illness strikes singers in Haydn's 'The Seasons' (review)," 19 Jan. 2018
Since the oratorio’s 1994 premiere, it has been performed, usually with the film, more than 250 times.

— OregonLive.com, "Joan of Arc's story gains a new dimension in film/concert pairing," 21 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oratorio.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of oratorio

Italian, from the Oratorio di San Filippo Neri (Oratory of St. Philip Neri) in Rome

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First Known Use: 1724

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ORATORIO Defined for English Language Learners

oratorio

noun

Definition of oratorio for English Language Learners

: a large piece of music for a group of singers and musicians that is usually about a religious subject

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