Getting Started - some tips

Here some tips for you who want to put your personal stamp on a full scale opera.

In Opera by You community we are creating a live opera in online community. The Opera is called Free Will and it’s original synopsis is written by Italian Graziano Gallo. This libretto was chosen from about a hundred suggestions by the Opera By You community and a group of operatives.

The opera itself will be seen at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in summer 2012.

You don’t have to be the next Mozart to participate. Every single idea, opinion, question, phrase, thumb up and tune is appreciated.

Join us, make an effort, win a trip to Savonlinna Opera Festival. Everyone taking part in creating Opera By You has a chance to win a trip to Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland. Been there? If yes, you know why this is the best prize ever. And if not, then hey, don’t miss it! Great opera, scenic Lakeland Saimaa and a medieval castle as a stage, beautiful Finnish summer nature, cup of coffee at the Savonlinna market square.

Here’s tips on how to contribute. It’s easy. Drop a word or two if you like, or really dig into it and give it your heart’s worth.

In creating an opera there are basically four phases. In brackets the timelines and deadlines:

1) the plot = synopsis (by May 2011) - find attached the latest version with Acts and Scenes.
2) the detailed script = libretto (by May 2011) - find the latest version attached.
3) the composition = music (by September 2011)
4) the visualization = guidelines mainly for stage sets, lightning and wardrobe. (Stage sets by May 2011, lightning and wardrobe by October 2011).

At the moment we have already created main lines of the plot. But there are still some gaps to fill - so just go ahead and give our opinion for instance to following tasks

THE SCRIPT - WRITING
In creating the script we have proceeded to the final scene, find the task here http://www.wreckamovie.com/tasks/show/2022

Here you can find some tips from our libretist Iida Hämeen-Anttila, so the person who is guiding the community writing process.
http://www.wreckamovie.com/productions/operabyyou/blog

THE MUSIC - COMPOSING
Here you can find the latest tasks in composing.
the choir scene between scenes 3 and 4. http://www.wreckamovie.com/tasks/show/2106

If you have any questions about the composing, just contact Markus Fagerudd, our composing operative who is guiding the community in composing tasks. Here shortly how composing is happening here: according to a task you may compose an entity, or those part of the task you find most interesting. The main thing is that you compose the way you feel it should be. You may also send in sketches of music, everything is valuable.

We are composing a pianoscore for the moment. This means vocalparts+piano. Please use a notation software you prefer. You can send in files with the free download program Musescore. You can also send in Sibelius and Finale files. Files from other notation software should be sent in as pdf + mp3.

Markus, our composing operative will gather and put together the material that you all contribute with. Then we can together still improve it according to the ideas and comments you share us all.

THE VISUAL SET UP - VISUALIZING
In visualization, stage elements, you can find the latest task here http://www.wreckamovie.com/tasks/show/2107

And the community is now discussing also about costume design, participate here
http://www.wreckamovie.com/tasks/show/2091

As you can see, we are working on with all the phases almost at the same time. Of course we need to have first the script before we can start composing, that is the reason why composing is always one step behind.

We are looking forward to hearing your ideas!And if you have any questions, feel free to contact myself or the other operatives of this project, Iida Hämeen-Anttila (writing), Markus Fagerudd (composing), Samuli Laine (visual designer), Jere Erkkilä (stage director), Juki Pohjolainen (head of production), Essi Palo (head of wardrobe) and Linda Winqvist (producer).

As the production leader of Opera By You I’m also more than happy to help.

Päivi Salmi
paivi.salmi@operafestival.fi