questions about opera

[blueraccoon]

I'm not entirely certain how to Google this, but I'll list what I've done after the question

Comments

[malnpudl]

I'm not sure if it qualifies, but possibly The Ring of the Nibelung (aka The Ring Cycle)? There's epic amounts of conflict, with the fate of the entire world at stake.

[blueraccoon]

I thought about that, but have no idea how to narrow down a three-day production to what I need. I may ask the husband though, he's more familiar with the cycle.

[malnpudl]

Yeah, I can't begin to help with that.

I did find summaries of 50 famous operas, for what it's worth.

Most operas seem to center around very personal conflicts and relationship dramas, don't they? *headscratch*

[blueraccoon]

*sigh* Pretty much. THank you for the link!

[blueraccoon]

Thanks! Will look it up.

[lindenharp]

My Google-fu suggestion is:

opera battle -kathleen

[blueraccoon]

That gets me a lot of Super Battle Opera, some video game. I'll refine it some more, but thanks for the suggestion on where to start.

[pengolodh_sc]

Try
opera "theme of war"

[pengolodh_sc]

Apparently, Durham Operatic Ensemble put on a performance called ‘War and Peace’ A Portrait of Conflict in Opera, less than two weeks ago. I can not find a detailed programme online, but found this review: http://www.palatinate.org.uk/?p=51802

Some of the ticket sites indicate more information can be gained by e-mailing h.a.brunskill@durham.ac.uk

[blueraccoon]

Thank you! I may look that up.

[pengolodh_sc]

The Durham Opera Ensemble's website is http://www.durhamoperaensemble.co.uk/ - it ahs a contact section with an e-mail form, which might be more able to get you in touch with someone who can say which pieces they put on.

[reconditarmonia]

Consider "Su! del Nilo al sacro lido" from Aida, a very jingoistic war anthem for male chorus with SATBB soloists. If you don't mind having small numbers of people on chorus parts, it could work. However, if you want to avoid anything with a chorus entirely, it would help to know the composition of your group - not just "all vocal ranges," but how many S, A, T, B.

(Will all the sections ideally be from the same opera?)

[blueraccoon]

I have one soprano, two mezzos (one closer to alto, one closer to soprano), one contralto, one tenor, two baritones with slightly different ranges, and one bass. I miscounted, my ninth person doesn't like to sing - if he did he'd be a second tenor, or baritone with a high range.

The sections don't have to be from the same opera. I'll take whatever I can get :)

[reconditarmonia]

Ah, yeah, the Aida piece wouldn't work then, not enough men even if you're able to reduce the chorus. You could look into Giulio Cesare, although I don't know any pieces from it offhand.

[blueraccoon]

Yeah, unfortunately I'm limited by people and for plot reasons have no access to a fuller chorus. I will look into Cesare, though!