Campbell Vertesi

I had a very interesting discussion with a director friend recently, about the future of opera.  His position was that contemporary opera will never catch on with a younger crowd until it accesses contemporary styles and genres.  "The pacing, rhythm and feel of a rock concert or a movie, in an opera" was (more or less) the way he put it.

Not a bad idea, says I.  A rock concert is hard to connect to a musical event with plot, but I think that many of the attitudes we bring make that connection possible.  After all, bel canto operas are all about showing off the prowess of the singer, with entirely free form cadenze throughout.  How different is this from a guitar solo?  I can't imagine an adrenaline pumping opera the way a rock concert is adrenaline pumping, but i do see the direction my friend is pointing.

More interesting to me, is the idea (brought up by the same friend) that opera should borrow more from contemporary culture.  Operas can be funny, but the humor tends to target audiences from 1900.  Where is the comic opera of Naked Gun style comedy?  I can hear the aria already, for the "I love it!" scene.  What about in other genres: romantic comedy, drama, suspense? Why is no one composing operas in these idioms?

Some images that flit through my mind at this thought: the coloratura aria from the famous When Harry Met Sally "diner scene".  Philadelphia, the opera (writes itself).  Seven. 

If I were more of a composer, I'd set to work on one of these.  If i were more of a writer, I'd at least write a libretto.  But I'm only a blogger, so all I can do is implore the real composers and writers out there.  Give it a shot.  And make sure to include a good bass role.