Works and plays to music (5)

I believe the answer is:

opera

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'to music' is the definition.
(opera is a kind of music)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for opera that I've seen before include "Lulu, say" , "Music and drama production" , "Musical extravaganza" , "Throw a rope for this show" , "Patience, perhaps" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph and The Globe and Mail.

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