Collaborative Opera Project?

Hey, I'm new to this site and I joined because there is no other place on the web where I can talk to composers.

I (like all of you) am a young composer. I want to write an opera, but the task is daunting. I wrote a comic 15-minute opera, but I want to write a dramatic full length opera.

But then I came up with the idea to do a collaborative opera. Wouldn't that be a blast? Anyone who wanted could contribute, and then one leader would piece everything together to make the opera.

Maybe an opera written by a large number of people would reflect the genius of many people, rather than just one. I think it's a very original idea, and it's worth a try, isn't it?

To do this, we'd need writers, poets, dramatists, and of course, composers. First we would all contribute to creating a plot, then we would all contribute to writing that into a libretto, and then finally, everyone would contribute pieces of the score (which I assume would start as a piano score and then would later be orchestrated).

Is anyone interested?

I'm in for writer. Already working on something with a member here from YC (just him and me) but I'll be glad to join this.

Actually this might just be the first suggestion anyone has made here that hasn't bored me half to death. Way to go, Dan! I'm totally for it. (and in it(musically)) Task me to the light, humorous/sarcastic arias oh pretty please.

I'll write a small aria/duet/trio/whatever for it. Let me know when you have the scene/section ready .

We have a special forum for collaborative works; you can tell that because it's called, "Collaborative Works." It lies here:
Collaborative Works - Young Composers Music Forum

If a mod would please move the thread to there, this thing can get underway. I don't think I'll participate, but I'll surely watch from aclose, it sounds like a smashing idea!

Well then, OK, I guess they should move this thread.

Do people that have said that would like to be a part of this want to commence with this project on this forum? An alternative would be using a google group (which I have already created). That way everything there would be this-related, and it wouldn't get confusing.

So what do you guys say - google group, or just using threads on this forum?

Well, I definitely want a part!!! I will write or compose, but I am better at composing. And, once this is done... I want a piece of the performing aspect. I am being trained in the art of opera!

Use the forums.

I'm in! I'll be happy to either do an incredibly light/happy/comical aria or the complete and total opposite, a depressing and emotional aria.

And use the forum, that's easiest.

Alright then, forums it is. We need a lot of people on in this.

I guess the first thing we should discuss is the plot.

I have an idea for the plot. It's kind of a dark idea. It needs elaboration to become a full length opera.

Anyone can contribute ideas.

My idea:


A tall, dark-haired eccentric man lives alone in a mansion on the outskirts of a town. He is an artist - and he draws really strange avante-garde paintings. But in his mind (since he's crazy), everything he paints comes to life and lives in his mansion.

He falls in love with a woman who lives in town, but he is so socially awkward that he can't get to know her. She thinks he's kind of a weirdo. So instead of further trying to get to know her, he paints a beautiful portrait of her, which comes to life and he now has a counterpart living with him in his mansion.

His paintings are naturally subservient to him. Therefore, his painting of this woman falls in love with him. But he grows bored of the painting and pines for the real thing. Having gotten to know the painting (which really is just a version of himself), he has the confidence to talk to the real woman. He gets to know her very well, until she begins to fall in love with him.

But this makes the painting very jealous. The painting becomes so jealous that she knows she has to exterminate the woman.


I don't know how the opera would end. Here is one idea:

The "painting" kills her. Really, it is the eccentric man who kills her himself.







If we decide to use this plot, it will need to be fleshed out. It needs details - more characters, more twists.

But I just think the idea of a man living alone in a mansion amidst all of his living art is a great tableux for an opera.


What do you guys think?
Do you have ideas for the plot?