Oratorio

An oratorio is, in almost every practical sense, an opera without the staging: it uses the same forces — chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra — and often tells a dramatic story, usually on a religious or biblical subject, but it's performed in a concert setting, with no sets, costumes, or acting.

The form developed in the Baroque era alongside opera, partly as a way to present dramatic religious narrative during periods (like Lent) when staged opera was considered inappropriate. George Frideric Handel's oratorios, written in England, are the genre's most enduring achievement.

Where to start listening: Handel's Messiah is by far the most famous oratorio and a natural first listen — its "Hallelujah" chorus is one of the most widely recognized pieces of choral music ever written.