I have been asked to consider joining a local opera company, and I am wondering if anyone has any experience of participating in opera.
I sing, and I have done some dance, but have never done drama. I wonder if doing opera has more to do with singing and dance or with singing and drama? In other words, does most of the 'action' come from the music or from the libretto? Perhaps it's both....
Any ideas?
Full Version: Opera
This sounds like fun! My first response would be singing and drama...depending on what they put on there could be some dancing but usually it is more like sung theater than sung ballet :-)
One of the major changes in opera post 1945 was the development of acting in opera - Callas's capacity for introducing real dramatic action in her roles went a long way to renewing interest in opera (at that time it used to be rather large not to say fat, static singers plonked on the scene, singing beautifully but not very appealing altogether!) and that's the way it's been developing since (what with ever more creative staging and lighting and all that)
Moving about on the stage and acting the part as well as singing it (and sometimes I would say acting more than singing, sadly!) has become the norm, so if you dance you know how to move and should not be too self-conscious about the acting bit?
Let us know what you decide!
One of the major changes in opera post 1945 was the development of acting in opera - Callas's capacity for introducing real dramatic action in her roles went a long way to renewing interest in opera (at that time it used to be rather large not to say fat, static singers plonked on the scene, singing beautifully but not very appealing altogether!) and that's the way it's been developing since (what with ever more creative staging and lighting and all that)
Moving about on the stage and acting the part as well as singing it (and sometimes I would say acting more than singing, sadly!) has become the norm, so if you dance you know how to move and should not be too self-conscious about the acting bit?
Let us know what you decide!
Sadly my dance career was short lived and was more tap than ballet - but knowing that, as you say, will help the sense of movement that you need to gain from the music. I am just intregued to know whether the movement in opera arises from the music in a similar way to the respsonses you make as a dancer, that you react to the music and singing...
Oh goodness, I feel like I'm tying myself up in knots!
Oh goodness, I feel like I'm tying myself up in knots!
No knots, please!
I think partly - inevitably when you sing sad or happy thoughts, this translates into body language. But there is also proper, thought-out and directed acting on top: say you are Carmen, the music itself may move you to make a couple of small gestures and faces, but probably not enough to convey the whole drama of a scene (the c ard scene in the mountains say, when she may be sitting down on stage and playing cards while singing!). You have to be able to move about the stage as if you were in a play, but you just happen to be singing to the audience at the same time (so for example you don't turn your back to the audience while singing! but once done you can flounce off to another part of the stage! or during a pause in your aria or whatever...)
I think partly - inevitably when you sing sad or happy thoughts, this translates into body language. But there is also proper, thought-out and directed acting on top: say you are Carmen, the music itself may move you to make a couple of small gestures and faces, but probably not enough to convey the whole drama of a scene (the c ard scene in the mountains say, when she may be sitting down on stage and playing cards while singing!). You have to be able to move about the stage as if you were in a play, but you just happen to be singing to the audience at the same time (so for example you don't turn your back to the audience while singing! but once done you can flounce off to another part of the stage! or during a pause in your aria or whatever...)
Sounds like the kind of thing where if you fancy it, it's worth having a go - you may find you take to it beautifully and then you have a whole new outlet for your singing talents. Could be a fantastic experience. Though please realise I am not a great singer or dramatist and have never been in opera, so I'm no expert here! Just sounds like it could be good, might be worth a try...
Why not go along and see? I would love to do something like that!
| QUOTE |
| Sounds like the kind of thing where if you fancy it, it's worth having a go - you may find you take to it beautifully and then you have a whole new outlet for your singing talents. |
Absolutely.
And if you try it and decide it's not for you, what have you lost?
If you don't, you might always wonder ............. ?
Maggie
| QUOTE (maggiemay @ Feb 1 2005, 12:06 PM) | ||
Absolutely. And if you try it and decide it's not for you, what have you lost? If you don't, you might always wonder ............. ? |
yep, amen to that! put beautifully what I couldn't work out how to say (not terribly eloquent today....!)
| QUOTE (Emma C @ Feb 1 2005, 11:05 AM) |
| I wonder if doing opera has more to do with singing and dance or with singing and drama? |
Depends on the opera. If it's French Baroque there'll be alot of dance, but put your ballet shoes away if you've been invited to sing Wagner!
Sounds great fun, and I do hope you'll be taking part. My own operatic performing experiences are limited to page turning for a local amateur production of Carmen (harder than it sounds - they'd completely cut the role of Michaela (which is no bad thing as she's SO WET!) so there were whole chunks to turn at once), and singing along (badly) to the radio or CDs. Husband runs for cover when there's coloratura stuff...
| QUOTE (Deborah @ Feb 1 2005, 12:43 PM) |
| My own operatic performing experiences are limited to page turning for a local amateur production of Carmen (harder than it sounds - they'd completely cut the role of Michaela (which is no bad thing as she's SO WET!) |
Shame
that means you lose one of the best arias (the one in 9/8 and Eb), with a gorgeous horn part.Also, her loyalty and honesty put Carmen's irresponsible and manipulative character into perspective.
when I go to the opera I mostly pay more attention to the singing that the acting.
I find the acting is less important. however, that might be because I sing and don't act...?! I'd definitely say that it's more important to be able to sing than to act well, though. after all, the emphasis is surely on the music?
I find the acting is less important. however, that might be because I sing and don't act...?! I'd definitely say that it's more important to be able to sing than to act well, though. after all, the emphasis is surely on the music?
i wish i can join an opera group.....but i'm stuck in a boarding school...oh no....
| QUOTE (Deborah @ Feb 1 2005, 12:43 PM) |
| Husband runs for cover when there's coloratura stuff... |
WHAT?!??!?!?!
PURLEEEZE! How can anyone DO that. Give me Tetrazzini ANY time (even if she might squash me flat)** or Gruberova or Ricciarelli and for the sweetest moments, Beverly Sills (I LOVE her Lucia.)
Do you think a stereoectomy would help him?
**...(Hmm, what a way to go...uh-huh-huh-huh)
Emma C: Go for it. If you can cope with the occasional backbiting in these kind of groups, it seems to be great fun. You can always have a little medicine before a performance.
Couple times played in the orch of an amateur group in S London.
I have to admit, deep down I would love to do it. My heart tells me to go for it, myhead tells me not to be so stupid! I'm still not convinced in myself that I can sing well enough, but it was my singing teacher who suggested it, and she's the Aristic Director for the opera group concerned..... at the moment my head is winning, but maybe I need a little of that medicine and then say yes.
Why do we adults always beat ourselves up about our abilities / inabilities?
Why do we adults always beat ourselves up about our abilities / inabilities?
Do go for it...remember there was a thread at some point back (probably in adult learners!) about where I said making a fool of yourself (should it ever happen) neve killed anyone and at least you won't have that niggling doubt (and then regrets) that it might just have been fabulous fun....Listen to your heart! Listen to your heart!!!!! LISTEN TO YOUR HEART!!!!!!
For this once, Emma, follow your heart.
but it was my singing teacher who suggested it, and she's the Aristic Director for the opera group concerned
What better commendation could you want. And if you decide you don't like it you can leave. What's the bet you won't.
.'.
but it was my singing teacher who suggested it, and she's the Aristic Director for the opera group concerned
What better commendation could you want. And if you decide you don't like it you can leave. What's the bet you won't.
.'.
| QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 3 2005, 12:57 PM) |
| Give me Tetrazzini ANY time (even if she might squash me flat)** or Gruberova or Ricciarelli and for the sweetest moments, Beverly Sills (I LOVE her Lucia.) Do you think a stereoectomy would help him? |
<hands Rhapsodin Tetrazzini, Gruberova, Ricciarelli and Beverly Sills>
I think it's more my off-key Zerbinetta that's the problem, rather than anyone else doing it properly
Making a fool of yourself in front of a whole load of people I know - and in a certain largish group of people I am well known in Cornwall because of what I do - might just kill me!!!! 
However, after the first time it might get easier.
Thanks everyone for your encouragement - I'll speak to my singing teacher again on Tuesday and see what we come up with. It could be very exciting!!! They are doing A Maksed Ball at the moment - I could cope with floucing around in a big dress and mask (at least no one could see me!) and next year doing a touring production of Dido and Aneas - which I love. Maybe, just maybe, I ought to be brave....
However, after the first time it might get easier. Thanks everyone for your encouragement - I'll speak to my singing teacher again on Tuesday and see what we come up with. It could be very exciting!!! They are doing A Maksed Ball at the moment - I could cope with floucing around in a big dress and mask (at least no one could see me!) and next year doing a touring production of Dido and Aneas - which I love. Maybe, just maybe, I ought to be brave....
| QUOTE (Deborah @ Feb 3 2005, 06:14 PM) |
| <hands Rhapsodin Tetrazzini, Gruberova, Ricciarelli and Beverly Sills> |
Cwahhhhh.... that'll keep me quiet...probably forever. As I said before - what a way to go!
Well, with every respect, better than Leglosi or whoever he was...for me bein' a male.
| QUOTE (lafrog @ Feb 3 2005, 05:23 PM) |
| LISTEN TO YOUR HEART!!!!!! |
what she said
you've found something that'll keep Rhaps quiet???
wow...
Yup, the consensus seems to be Emma C, that you should give it a go and you'll probably love it once the ice is broken.
Good luck?
Good luck?
Amateur perspective here...
I can't sing, but I love the sound of the human voice better than any instrument. I can't act, but my research speciality, before real life got hold of me and forced me into aviation safety, was a kind of medieval Japanese comedy, which is mainly mime, jokes, and a few little tiddly-pom type of songs here and there.
So, if there's dramatic interest in opera, my eyes are open to it. However, for me it's first and foremost about the music. Absolutely, and forever.
It's very nice if the singers can act a bit, but they can't very well go tearing up the furniture and swinging from the flies, unless they're lip-synching. So yes, an opera singer's acting is likely to be mostly expressive movement rather than something that develops the plot or character all by itself.
Just think about those opera sets. All those huge backdrops and gorgeous chunks of stage furniture, and these days lighting too...isn't it a kind of compensation for the fact that the main characters *won't* be moving round and attracting your eye very much?
Now that it's possible to reproduce moving pictures and sound at reasonable resolutions, I think we'll be seeing a lot more musical or operatic work on DVD or whatever new media come along. Don't hold me to it, but opera or musical drama of any kind may turn out not be a career backwater, if that's what you're frightened of.
As for the techniques of acting, people learn that stuff to a certain extent, y'know.
I can't sing, but I love the sound of the human voice better than any instrument. I can't act, but my research speciality, before real life got hold of me and forced me into aviation safety, was a kind of medieval Japanese comedy, which is mainly mime, jokes, and a few little tiddly-pom type of songs here and there.
So, if there's dramatic interest in opera, my eyes are open to it. However, for me it's first and foremost about the music. Absolutely, and forever.
It's very nice if the singers can act a bit, but they can't very well go tearing up the furniture and swinging from the flies, unless they're lip-synching. So yes, an opera singer's acting is likely to be mostly expressive movement rather than something that develops the plot or character all by itself.
Just think about those opera sets. All those huge backdrops and gorgeous chunks of stage furniture, and these days lighting too...isn't it a kind of compensation for the fact that the main characters *won't* be moving round and attracting your eye very much?
Now that it's possible to reproduce moving pictures and sound at reasonable resolutions, I think we'll be seeing a lot more musical or operatic work on DVD or whatever new media come along. Don't hold me to it, but opera or musical drama of any kind may turn out not be a career backwater, if that's what you're frightened of.
As for the techniques of acting, people learn that stuff to a certain extent, y'know.
what I'm frightened of is that most of my work friends are into opera - including my seniors - but in my line of work 'promotion' in the ususal sense is not an issue. If I make an idiot of myself people will be talking about it - but at least it will give them something concrete to gossip about!!!!
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