The closer comparison to make is between oratorio and Opera. Oratorios were originally created to be the church's response to opera which the 17th century church considered somewhat sinful. Therefore, oratorios are really unstaged operas. As a matter of fact, they can be quite similar musically and there have been a few oratorios that have been staged from time to time. Loosely speaking, a cantata is a short oratorio.
During the Baroque Period dramatic stagings of music were discouraged during the season of Lent, henceforth Oratorios came about as a non-staged setting of a dramatic story, usually of a religious background.
In Bach's time, a sacred German cantata for the Lutheran services was normally named a "Concerto" or "Stücke" ("Piece"), and was usually a mix of brilliant choruses, soloists recitatives and airs, and harmonized Lutheran chorales, all backed by elaborated orchestral parts and several solo instruments. The sacred German motet used to be sang by a full choir, and had one or several sections made of chorales and elaborated choruses, with no orchestra at all (a capella), or more usually, with instruments just doubling the choir parts (colla parte), making them sound more austere and serious. Besides, they were, more often than not, used in funeral services.
The cantata is only sung, usually accompanied by instruments and/or basso continuo. Cantata's are usually a religious story.
The opera is also sung, but the addition of costumes and non-musical dialog are also part of it. The opera can be both religious and secular.
Opera is a theatrical production, with scenery and costumes, and the singers act the story. Oratorio is a concert work, with no acting or scenery, and the chorus plays a larger part than in most operas.
an opera is like a play but with lots of singing and you mainly stay in one place.
An opera is a fully-staged theatrical production, complete with sets and costumes. An oratorio is a concert piece, and the subject matter is often Biblical.
Which of these is a shorter version of an opera or oratorio?
Oratorio
An oratorio does not have acting, scenery, or costumes as an opera does but does have arias, recitatives, chorus, and orchestra.
Oratorio uses sacred text, and is typically not staged (no costumes, lights, sets, etc.).
They are all performed to music.
An oratorio is a large vocal and instrumental dramatic work based on a sacred subject. The main difference between an oratorio and an opera is that an oratorio has no staging or costumes.
Which of these is a shorter version of an opera or oratorio?
Oratorio
Overature
An oratorio does not have acting, scenery, or costumes as an opera does but does have arias, recitatives, chorus, and orchestra.
An oratorio is a large musical composition comprised of an orchestra, a choir and soloists. Similar to an Opera in the story telling, but different in it is just music not singing. Baroque references the time frame of 1600-1750 when the oratorio was written.
Handel's Messiah is an Oratorio, which is basically an opera without a stage. The Messiah is one of the few of Handel's Oratorio's without characters, which leads to the confusion expressed by many people (including yourself). The oratorio itself has a colorful place in music history; Handel's turning to the genre occured after the British public lost taste for his operas.
Yes, you could make an educated guess. Oratorio plots are often based on sacred topics. Opera plots are about murder, romance, etc... Also, the characters in an oratorio have much less interaction with each other than the characters of an opera.
Oratorio uses sacred text, and is typically not staged (no costumes, lights, sets, etc.).
Libretto
They are all performed to music.
An oratorio is just sung using solo voice or choral pieces. The opera uses solos and choral voices too, but involves stage acting as well. For example, Handel's Messiah is an Oratorio ... La Boheme is an Opera.