Recommend me opera music!

[javier_colin]

Hi!
I'm really a metal fan. But I've heard some amazing operas, really strong and even dark. Unfortunatelly I don't know the names/authors. Could you please recommend me good operas, I'm a newbie looking (to start) for operas written ONLY for female singers and ONLY for piano and/or violin.
Also I'm looking for "dark operas", you know, something that resemble an Edgar Allan Poe horror story.
Thank you.

[Pamadu]

First of all. Welcome to MIMF......I am sure that other members will come up with a lot more Operas and Composers for you.....
"Orphee aux enfers" Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach,comes to mind and is based on Deep Classical Mythology and is good in it's extended form of 4 acts.(originally only 2 acts). ALL female Singers. mmmmmmm that's a bit hard.
Also Only Piano/Violin Accompianment is hard too....unless the Rehersal score is used. However,who knows what others may find. Cheers Pamadu/Paul.

[corno]

I'm curious... why should the opera only use female singers and only piano and/or violin? - it's really an absurd request, sorry... no offence intended... - I don't know if there ever has been written any operas with that constellation - none that I know of anyway...
I'm all for spreading out the knowledge of classical music but it's requests like these I find hard to take serious... it's like if I wrote in a metal-forum and wanted to them to recommend me some metal music written only for electric guitar and/or a drum set and only sung by a child (male/boy)?!

As to recommendable operas there's a whole world out there with different styles not only from different timeperiods from the baroque opera of Purcell or Händel over the classical ones of Mozart through the Italian-romantics by Puccini, Verdi, Rossini to the musicdramas of Wagner and beyond. - It's hard to recommend anything specific other than I would go for the latter composers if wanting an opera in a "dark/solmn" mood... generally the operas of Wagner have a dark-"ring" (no pun intended ) to them...
As to Paul's recommendation of Offenbach... well, I would say that Offenbach, like another composer named Gluck, writes in a more humoures style - the operetta... - I haven't heard the whole of "Orpheus..."... the story is indeed one of the classic tradegies... but the music might at times appear too "light"?!?

[Pamadu]

Thanks Thomas for saying what I really wanted to say.
I am MORE than Curious.!!!! It would be interesting to know
just what is in this new members musical mind.???? Certainly NO Operas written with that constellation.
I too,am like you Thomas,willing to "pass on" my musical knowledge to people who are "serious". But as you say,if I was to go into a "Metal-Forum" too and ask a similar type of question,as with your example,They would surely think I was "waisting their time".
Instead of Offenbach......A Good LONG dose of Wagner's "Ring" may do some good. But "Goth like" Operas may be written, and i certainly agree to go to the more contempory scene for a composer of that Genre,but as to Your Request,I have NO answer...IF IT EXISTS.Are You really Serious.?????? Please do come back and tell us more. Pamadu/Paul.
EDIT.
Humperdink's "Hansel & Gretal" has a wicked old witch but like you corno these are of a more "light comedy" flavour as in Gluck and Offenbach etc.

[Jamie]

Hi there Javier_colin. I think I know what you are on about,but have to agree with Corno and Pamadu.It seems a little strange & absurd request (no offence).
There are Many Links in Google about this Growing Genre,but not My Scene. TYPE in Goth Operas & many links appear.
"Monsterous Pleasures" based on Horace Walpole and is being considered by Anne Williams to add a Musical Score.
http://www.rc.umd.edu/praxis/frankenstein/about.html
Samuel Barbers Goth Operas based after the Seven Gothic Tales:
http://www.karadar.com/Operas/barber.html and lots more there.
This really worries me:
Saviour Machine - Ukrainian Gothic Portal - Interview with Saviour ...
... Saviour Machine is determited by music critics to be christian gothic metal. ... The great
"Rock Operas" and concept albums of the past 30 years are a fundamental ...
www.gothic.com.ua/english/interviews/ saviour_machine.html - 33k - Cached - Similar pages
http://www.gothic.com.ua/english/int...r_machine.html

also:

http://www.musicweb.uk.net/brian/theoperas2.htm
This makes more Sense.!!!!!

However. The Soprano & Violin thing is a bit strange I would have thought that a Full Orchestra....as mentioned in One of Those Links re. "The Undergrounds of Phantom of the Opera" would be more effective.(There are Horror Operas around,but need to search for them). None of the traditional Composers of Years gone by wrote such Stuff as YOU are asking.
As Corno says.I am Curious too & would like you to explain a little MORE of what you mean.
Absolutely No Offence is inferred. But Your Question at first Glance is "Odd".
I can only join with Corno & Pamadu with their Comments.I will share what I know,as well,but only if it is "serious".
Jamie.

[Pamadu]

Well.!!!!! I have told Jamie "it's NOT what he is on about......It may be what He's ON."
Still has Not come back to explain to us all....and hope he............(well)....I have to be Nice Today. Pamadu/Paul.
BUT....Like Corno....I am Very Curious about this FEMALE & Piano/Violin ONLY Thing.....More than the Deep & Dark

[Jamie]

I must read Edgar Allan Poe again and see if I can write a short 'Opera' for this guy. lol. but the 'constellation' has me very concerned.females only & piano/violin. could be an interesting result. lol Jamie
ps. but will we ever see this 'metal-head' again is the QUESTION.??????

[javier_colin]

Hi!

Sorry, I'm here again, I couldn't remember my password until now. Thanks everyone for answering/waiting.

I didn't think it will be so hard to find this kind of music. But I'm sure it exists 'cos I've heard it in radio (at least piano-female). Maybe there are only 3 o 4 pieces and I'm thinking that I cand find entire operas written this way.

I'm asking for this kind of music because I really like female opera voice and my favorite instrument is the piano and in second place the violin but I dont like the sound of wind instruments (with a few exceptions) that you normally find in a full orchestra.

My favorite classical piece (since I was 7) is Winter from the 4 seasons (maybe that could help you to understand what kind of music do I like). But in opera I know only a few.

[Pamadu]

Hi Again javier_colin.....Glad you have returned to help us ALL to understand & hopefully answer Your Original Question....My comments were made,not to offend YOU...But could not follow what you really mean't etc....After Easter will have a Good Look for You...I am sure the Other Members will NOW have a "starting point" to give you some constructive answer.....It just seemed a far "too broad & very odd" Question at first,but we now have something to go on.
Cheers. Pamadu/Paul.

[Jamie]

Hi again Probably what you have heard are a few 'arias' from certain operas.'songs/pieces pulled out of the main opera'. there are many of these that have become very popular and use piano and voice solo.BUT i have searched as well as others and NO FULL OPERAS have YET been written with the 'line up' you are looking for.
if you like the 4 seasons 'and winter'. also have a listen to 'Holst-The Planets'. great work and divided into sections,but a lot 'heavier'than the 4 seasons. will keep looking for you.we have not forgot you.nice that you did come back. NOTE.!!! if you ever loose your password again. just email to mimf with email addy you joined with and it will be found for you. regards Jamie.