In opera, behold, the chook may smile! (9)

I believe the answer is:

lohengrin

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'in opera' is the definition.
'lohengrin' can be an answer for 'opera' (I've seen this before). I'm not sure about the 'in' bit.

'behold the chook may smile' is the wordplay.
'behold' becomes 'lo' ('lo' is an archaic exclamation meaning 'look!').
'the chook may' becomes 'hen' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'smile' becomes 'grin' (grinning is a kind of smiling).
'lo'+'hen'+'grin'='LOHENGRIN'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lohengrin that I've seen before include "Wagnerian opera" , "Musical entertainment" , "Wagner opera" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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