Main opera criteria

Hello everybody,

1. What are according to you the most important criteria for a decent opera?
   Do not only think about musical elements, but also stage performances, scening etc.
    
2. When you want to write an opera, where do you start and how would the writing process look like?
    
3. What is in your opinion the best opera?
   Making decisions is difficicult, so you can mention more than one opera.

I am looking forward to your responses!

Maarten

Are you planning on writing one? I'm currently writing a musical, which is kinda sorta not really the same. 😂
You're welcome to think of stage elements if you'd like, but know that most adaptions will disregard most of your initial ideas for later performances. Better say more with your music and words than scenery.
Plot is first, then characters to fit that plots, then moments of higher intensity, then some people like writing lyrics before music, some people like music before lyrics, then final touches. I'm doing a combo of both for my musical.
I love Porgy and Bess (Gershwin), but The Nose by Shostakovich is also fantastic.

I'm with Monarcheon.  There are wonderful professionals who do nothing but the scenery and the stage directions, and who specialize in doing them differently every time, so concentrate on the story and how to tell it with music.  That's how you get something timeless.  If the music can't tell the story on its own, without the stage direction, it's not an opera, it's a Disney movie.  You should be able to understand the whole plot just by listening to a recording.  Assume some people in the back will have bad seats, and won't be able to see in great detail.  That's why Shakespeare's characters narrate all the scenery, action, and props for the audience who can't see well.  "O, happy dagger.  This is thy sheath.  There rust, and let me die."  You can tell she stabbed herself, with a dagger, and is dying, even if the person in front of you is too tall to see around.  Remember that opera is frequently performed as a concert.  Orchestra and conductor on stage with the singers, everyone just stands there in tuxes and nice gowns and sings.  No props.  No scenery.  No walking around or sword fighting.  And it still works, because it's the music and the story that matters.  

1.What you want, essentially, is for your opera (or symphony, concerto etc) to be performed.

In my opinion, this means that you shouldn't be too picky about stage directions. Maybe have some important ones such as 'characters exit stage left, wild animal enters stage right' but if the orchestra does not have the required things, they can't perform it.

This means your stage needs to be adaptable. Leave it to the bare minimum, and let the orchestra sort it out. (I often think of it as being like marking bowing, something that is done when you want a certain effect but is generally left to the concertmaster)

2. Bits of the opera I am planning to write have been in progress for several months, but I do not think I will complete my opera for many years. I have been drafting the story first, and I have made notes on certain motifs etc. The Overture is being planned out just now.

3. Difficult choice. Personally, I cannot choose the best, as I do not have enough musical experience. However, my favourites are Mozart's operas and also Puccini's Turandot.

@Monarcheon @pateceramics @aMusicComposer,

Thank you for your interesting responds!

The reason I am asking this, is that I am planning to compose an opera about my root countries: Indonesia & The Netherlands.
Hopefully, I will get it completed some day and performed too.

Fingers crossed!