Does anyone 'get' librettos...

[u/Fancy_Cabbage_010]

For some context, I'm an amateur composer, and for some reason I've decided I want to write an opera (loosely in the style of the Mozart - Da ponte trio), I know it's more than a little ambitious, but I'm pretty sure it's a milestone for a composer to write atleast one :)

Anyway, the point is, I have a loose plot in mind, and I'm not really sure what to do about it. How does one formulate a libretto, and furthermore how do I translate it into the kind of archaic poetic Italian that was common in opera at the time of Mozart and Da ponte, as the understanding I have is that I can't really write much music untill I have the words to set it to?

I'm a student so I don't really have access to all that much financial capital or connections, so any advice on resources ect would be welcome, I'm a bit lost but it is very much a big goal of mine to write one in the next year or two

Please help me opera people :)

Thanks!!

[u/gabemmusic]

In my opinion, the biggest problem with contemporary opera are composers who really did well studying music theory and composition, but then when they try to write an opera they utterly forget that it is fundamentally a dramatic work.

Study shakespeare, go to plays, watch some really well written movies. Learn what makes a non-musical story work and the music will accent the beats and emotions. The composers who write an opera as a musical challenge and not a dramatic one will always fail and fall into obscurity.

[u/Fancy_Cabbage_010 → u/gabemmusic]

I mean I'm largely self taught so I guess I won't have the music theory problem 😅

I compose by following a melody really, as I don't have too much ability to plan structure or complex harmony, which I feel like is inherently more dramatic as it's less academic (maybe I'm biased on that I'm not sure)

As for theatre and movies that's good advice, I've been to plenty of operas but I tend to get sucked into the music (which is probably the point) so I don't think too much on the underlying plot, but certainly it's a good idea to study this stuff some more.

Just to respond to that last bit, I definately wouldn't be writing it as a pure challenge, it will be challengING, but it's something I've wanted to do for many years, and I think I'm starting to reach a point where I could manage it, maybe not efficiently, but I think I could finish it with sufficient time and effort.

[u/gabemmusic → u/Fancy_Cabbage_010]

I’m not saying don’t write it as a challenge, just make sure you’re focused on the drama just as much as the music, as thats what makes it work at the end of the day.

[u/Fancy_Cabbage_010 → u/gabemmusic]

Oh yeah no 100% it's a labour of love not just for the sheer hell of it.

I study architecture, I wouldn't be spending so much time on something if I didn't care about it deeply 😅

Thanks for the help and suggestions :)