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Contemporary subjects for opera

Submitted by Campbell Vertesi on Thu, 2007-05-31 11:59.

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. 

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Writing wedding vows

Submitted by Campbell Vertesi on Mon, 2006-10-30 13:24.
lego weddingIt's always so nice to see a couple who has written their own wedding vows.  Really, what could be more personal, or perfect for the occasion?  It gives a great insight into their relationship, and the way they see each other and marriage.
 
Which I suppose is why they're so damned hard to write.
 
I feel like I'm composing again. I face the same challenge - you have to write something meaningful, personally revealing, but not trite.  Make it interesting, make it say what you want to have said - but not trite.  Suddenly I understand why couples just use the "default" vows! Too bad, that's not an option for me - I don't attribute any part of our fabulous relationship to an undefinable "higher" power.  We have this relationship because we earn each others' respect, and we work hard to maintain the wonderful connection between us.  I don't want to give any of that credit away! 
 
So these vows have to say something about the nature of our relationship, about our partnership, our extraordinary respect and even admiration for each other... it has to express that we love because we see in each other the values we each hold most dearly in ourselves. But it can't be trite.
 
And what about the readings?  I'm not sure if we'll have any traditional readings; more likely we'll have some of our friends sing.  But what to sing?  Operatic love songs abound, but usually someone is dying at the time.  Not exactly wedding fodder.  Italian canzone? Nah, not enough musical or textual depth. How about "che gelida manina", because Bryn gets cold in 90 degree weather? Or "Un bel di vedremo", because one of us is forever coming home late after a 14 hour day, to find the other waiting up for them?  Or that great tenor aria from Cenarentola (Rossini's Cindarella opera), because Bryn has such a huge collection of shoes?  Now I'm just getting silly.
 
You know what?  It's HARD to plan an event that only happens once, that you will remember for the rest of your life, that has to somehow convey the meaning of the deepest relationship you have.  I don't know why I ever thought it might be easy! :) 
 

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