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 June 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 December 2011)
4) the visualization = guidelines mainly for stage sets, lightning and wardrobe. (Stage sets by May 2011, lightning and wardrobe by December 2011).

At the moment we have already finalized the script and stage sets design. But we have still lot to do with composing, stage direction and marketing planning.

THE SCRIPT
Find here the final script
http://www.wreckamovie.com/shots/show/8931

THE MUSIC - COMPOSING
Here you can find the latest tasks in composing.
Scene 6, first part
http://www.wreckamovie.com/tasks/show/2324

Mozarts aria
http://www.wreckamovie.com/tasks/show/2368

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
The community has finalized the following:

Find the final stage sets here
http://www.wreckamovie.com/shots/show/9457

Find the final costumes here
http://www.wreckamovie.com/tasks/show/2381

In visual desig there will soon come some new tasks. Stay tuned!

THE SLOGAN, VISUAL IMAGE AND MARKETING of FREE WILL
Find the detailed task here
http://www.wreckamovie.com/tasks/show/2375

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) and Essi Palo (head of wardrobe).

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

Päivi Salmi
paivi.salmi@operafestival.fi