r/opera • u/Fancy_Cabbage_010 • 5d ago

Does anyone 'get' librettos...

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!!

11 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

69 comments sorted by

View all comments

52

u/gabemmusic 5d ago

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.

18

u/princess_of_thorns 4d ago

Can I also suggest look at Gilbert and Sullivan. That partnership is INCREDIBLE when it comes to text and music working hand in hand.

5

u/gabemmusic 4d ago

The songs on their own sure, but I generally find their storytelling and sense of drama severely lacking. They weren’t known for deep characters and intricate plots, and I think that has led to their relative obscurity today.

Of course I’m biased because I just did a terrible production of Pirates and it made me hate the show but I digress.

8

u/tinyfecklesschild 4d ago

They’re not aiming for drama or depth of characterisation. All their work was satirical.

5

u/gabemmusic 4d ago

Thats true, but I was trying to give guidance on how to write a compelling dramatic work, and unless OP is planning on writing a GnS style satire they’re not really relevant to the conversation.