A new Opera (for opera lovers everywhere)

So I have started a new opera to an original story. I have had a few people read over the plot and they say that it sounds very dramatic. So here is the Synopsis:

La Pazzia di Amore

(The Madness of Love)

Act I- After a hard day in the field, the workers of this small village are overjoyed to hear that the war in Italy is over. One of the soldiers, Aberto, returns with his friend Alfredo to spread the news. In light of this news, everyone gathers in the local pub for a drink. Meanwhile at home, Gabriella is infatuated with the thought of her childhood sweetheart Aberto. After a conversation with her maid she ventures out to look for him and confess her undying love to him. After searching the pub, Gabriella sees no site of Aberto so she heads to her friend Patrizzia

Ya... I don't really see the purpose of this opera. I dont mean to sound offensive, but I really cant help it here. The plot is quite unoriginal, and we see bad soap operas like this all the time.

As for the second part, its not to difficult. Opera tends to be a bit of a style; if you keep to one style, chances are it wont sound like a musical.

Ehh...I'm not following the whole Italian thing.... Will the libretto be in Italian as well? I'm confused. And you definately used an online translator. Your italian is.....:laugh:

hah yea it may be a fun project and all, but I agree that its unorginal, stories about love, jealousy, and infidelity are like the primary tools that make up a soap opera..... I think it would be interesting to take a modern spin on it and pursue a more unique story line.

Can you name me some opera's that follow this plot line. I am curious. And so what if it is like a soap oepra........Its about the drama. And the opera takes place in Italy. If you recall any of shakespears works he does the same thing I have done. Also, Carmen.......the opera.......Takes place in Spain...but is in French. Romeo and Juliet......takes place in Italy......it is an english text......is sung in French. Madame Butterfly......sung in Italian.......takes place in Japan. So as for that........hope that cleared things up.

well I think what you've laid out in general is unorginal, it just really depends on how you work the characters and particulars.... the actual idea of just taking love and jealousy is pretty basic, I think developing the characters with unique personalities and histories along with making the plot flow in an orginal fashion would be good, however if you plan to plug run of the mill characters and events into this plot and solve for x, you'll have something that everyone else can make.

Can you name me some opera's that follow this plot line. I am curious. And so what if it is like a soap oepra........Its about the drama. And the opera takes place in Italy. If you recall any of shakespears works he does the same thing I have done. Also, Carmen.......the opera.......Takes place in Spain...but is in French. Romeo and Juliet......takes place in Italy......it is an english text......is sung in French. Madame Butterfly......sung in Italian.......takes place in Japan. So as for that........hope that cleared things up.

It doesn't matter if it's original or not OR if it has a purpose other than entertainment. Fine, if it's well done. Like West Side Story, a brilliant opera but unoriginal - most of us know from where it comes. Most Shakespeare plots weren't original but that doesn't diminish their value as plays.

Your story certainly has all the elements of a good operatic tragedy - doesn't matter how good the plot is - some VERY daft plots have yielded brilliant opera. It ultimately comes down to how much drama can be squeezed from it and how well the singers do it. I'll bet a dollar to a pinch of pigshit that Donizetti would have had a go at this.

The problem for composer and librettist together, is writing for the stage/camera. From bel canto to Puccini, the composer was almost always writing for two or three stars whom he already knew and worked with. He had to give them material to show their talents and act with, in the affected way that opera singers do! Probably isn't quite the same now but you'll almost certainly have to work with singers and others in the production. If your heroine and/or tenor are well-known and are happier hogging centre-front to deliver arias, let em! as long as they get where they're supposed to be afterwards!

So, great! On with the composition. Have you written the libretto? Are you going to produce it yourself? If 'yes' I'll assume (if I may) you'll get the many different issues sorted out. Is your aim to stage it as an opera or a concert performance (like with everyone lined up on the stage apron)?

Genuinely interested.

Good luck - it'll be a lot of work but worth the experience.

M

Piece of advice: Alfredo and Alberto are too similar. Try a contrasting name for one of them.

I have a lot of problems with the story. You start with the war ending. And then they all just gather in this pub. It seems very planned and unnatural. Then you have Gabriella, shouldn't she be happy about the war? You don't deal with her feelings about the war. You set up the situation of finding her sweetheart sleeping with her best-friend and then she goes on this murderous rampage. Humans are more complex then that. Somebody suddenly doesn't just go insane and kill everyone...

I left the story open like that for the librettist to make it more interesting. I come up with the major points and he catches all of the small details. And let me tell you he is doing an excellent job. M is D is my librettist for those of you curious people.

Sounds facinating, and the story is definately operatic (viz. depressing :D).

Just a word of advice for you (or rather, your librettist); when doing any creative writing, it's best to write about what you know. Do your research on the period and get your facts straight, then the story will be more realistic. For instance, which war is it? I don't want to be discouraging - just make sure it's accurate.

On that note, is the language of the opera going to be Italian? Unless you or your librettist is a fluent speaker I'd strongly advise against it. But hey, for all I know you are Italian. :D

With that said; good luck! Opera rules! :shifty: