any opera?

[Paul slaps on his theoretical wellies and wades into the debateÂ…]

Ben17 wrote:
“I say Verdi's requiem is an opera because musically its not written like a requiem.”
“As you know Verdi's requiem is acussed [sic] for being more operatic than being a [sic] archetypal requiem. I'm telling this in the sense of music not what it really is.”

An opera is a staged piece of music drama, with sets, costumes, a (typically outlandish) plot, etc.
A requiem, any requiem, is a piece of music set to the Latin Requiem Mass.

VerdiÂ’s Requiem may be written with a style of music and singing that is more suited to an opera house or concert hall than a Roman Catholic cathedral, but it is still, undeniably, a Requiem.

Ben17 wrote:
“Now tell me, is mikado an opera or a musical? it was an opera yet its more known as musical nowadays; why? it has dialogues;”

[“…it has dialogues;”?? I never noticed any nuns!! – sorry, very obscure opera joke :-)]

Simon wrote:
“Well actually it is an operetta. And the only reason why its confused with being a musical is because some people are plebs.”

So, what is the difference between an opera and a musical, and for that matter, exactly what is an operetta.

Is it the inclusion of dialogue?
There is dialogue in “Carmen”, “The Magic Flute” and “Der Freischutz”, but these are all widley considered operas.
There is no dialogue in “Les Miserables”, “Evita” or “Passion”, and yet these are widely considered musicals.

“Porgy and Bess” and “The Consul” premiered on Broadway, yet they are considered operas, and Baz Luhrmann’s production of “La Boheme” has also been running on Broadway, as has Matthew Bourne’s acclaimed production of “Swan Lake” (the one with the male swans)

Operetta is described as a 19th century style of light opera, and yet later twentieth century works like “Candide” and “A Little Night Music” are widely considered operettas not musicals.

You cannot even say this composer writes this type while another composer writes the other type.
Leonard Bernstein, for example, wrote “On the Town” and “Wonderful Town” (Musicals); “Candide” (Operetta) and “Trouble in Tahiti” (Opera), as well as symphonies, masses and popular songs…
And the Gershwin’s wrote, amongst many other musicals, “Porgy and Bess” which is now considered an opera.

The Australian Opera has, “Sweeney Todd” in its repertoire. In fact ALL of the professional productions of “Sweeney Todd” EVER performed in Australia have been done by Opera Companies!!!

And of course, while Kurt Weill’s “The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny” and “The Seven Deadly Sins” may be considered operas…
Where, oh where, do you classify his “The Threepenny Opera”?
This seems to me to be the classic work that totally defies categorisation. It can be an opera or a musical or an operetta or a cabaret or a vaudeville or whatever you choose to do with it. And yet the intrinsic work stays the same!

So what is the point of my ramblingsÂ…

Before the Australian Opera premiered their production of “Sweeney Todd”, Sondheim was interviewed and one of the questions asked him was what he considered to be the difference between opera and musical.
In his reply he went on to illustrate how he had attended the New York City Opera’s opening night of “Sweeney Todd”, and how he was bemused to hear actual shock in the audience at the plot twist. Here it was, only about ten years after the very popular Broadway production had closed, and here were people who were seasoned opera goers WHO HAD NO IDEA OF THE STORY, even though it had been playing just down the road for years.
He came to the conclusion that there is really only ONE difference between a musical and an opera.
An Opera is a piece of musical drama performed by highly trained Opera Singers in an Opera House usually without amplification.
A Musical is a piece of musical drama performed by less highly trained but no less talented Music Theatre singers in a Theatre usually with amplification.


It is not the WORK that defines whether something is an opera or a musical, but the PERFORMANCE!!!


Ben17 wrote:
“ITs fine if you have an ego of a soprano or a spoiled tenor”

How many Sopranos does it take to change a light bulb?
One, she stands their with the bulb in her hand while the rest of the world revolves around her.

What is the difference between a soprano and a pit bull terrier?
Jewellry!


Thank you for listeningÂ…

Paul Treasure

PS: Come see “Fiddler on the Roof” at Roleystone – tickets selling fast!
Ring Bobby on 9397 5730 – More information on the What’s On pages for November and December.