Other distinctions between opéra-comique and other opéra genres,
apart from having spoken dialogue versus recitative, became
institutionalized: grand opéra, for example, was extravagant in its
performances whereas opéra-comique retained a greater simplicity of style
and resources. Also, ballet was regarded as a necessity at the Opéra
(fashionable expectation leading to generic definition); but ballet was not
insisted upon at the Opéra-Comique which preferred crowd scenes
involving choral writing. Opéra-comique also preferred a single leading
soprano with a “lighter” supporting soprano, where the Opéra preferred
having two dominant soprano voices. The hero in opéra-comique came to
be associated with a lighter male voice.