Works of note featuring in musical dramas (8)
I believe the answer is:
operates
'works' is the definition.
('operate' can be a synonym of 'work')
'note featuring in musical dramas' is the wordplay.
'note' becomes 'te'.
'featuring in' indicates putting letters inside.
'musical dramas' becomes 'operas' (I've seen this before).
'te' placed within 'operas' is 'OPERATES'.
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for operates that I've seen before include "Acts" , "Performs sugery" , "Functions" , "Performs, surgery perhaps" , "[TREAT] s with a knife" .)