What it is:
A Recitative is a bit of an opera or an oratorio which is there to move the story on. In real life terms, that means it comes just before a "proper" song, or "Aria", and sounds a bit different.
When you hear a recitative you will hear a solo singer singing in a free rhythm, somewhat speech-like, and you will struggle to pick out a melody that you could sing along with.
The accompaniment will be simple, and very much follows what the singer is doing. Quite often it actually just outlines some chords here and there, and is not playing a recognisable accompaniment part.
In the Baroque era a recitative was most often accompanied just by the Basso continuo- harpsichord and cello.
Contrast this with an Aria, where the singer is singing melodically and very much accompanied and supported by the orchestra.
Video example: listen to how the basso continuo is minimal and unimportant in this recitative. Can you hear how the melody is quite hard to follow?
Not like the traditional melodic style of singing you'd be used to. The rhythm is quite free and the accompaniment is really sparse.
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