1. a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists, typically on a religious theme and performed without costumes, scenery, or action
Usage: music

Examples

• Handel’s Messiah is one of the most famous oratorios ever composed.
• The church choir performed a beautiful oratorio for Easter Sunday.
• Bach wrote several oratorios that are still performed today.
• The oratorio tells the story of Christ’s birth through music and song.
• She sang the soprano solo in the oratorio at the concert hall.
• The orchestra and chorus rehearsed for weeks before performing the oratorio.