Jack in opera is excellent (5)
I believe the answer is:
raise
'jack' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for raise that I've seen before include "Bring up - an increase in pay" , "Uplift" , "Lift; (to) levy (money)" , "Call up" , "Exalt" .)