Usually when we talk of entertainment, what comes to our minds most times is film pop music(rap, RnB, Blues) and so on, but we rarely talk of operatic singing.
Operatic music is one of the less talked about form of singing as most people have little or no idea about it, while most just decided to leave it to the choir due to its nature. And most others just see it as a complicated way of singing.
So due to this, people just prefer they are singing or talking about a style of music that’s less complex and seemingly easy to them.
It’s no surprise That operatic singers are not so famous, especially in so many African countries. This doesn’t mean that it’s songs are whack or not interesting no.
Operatic songs are some of the best songs one could. Listen to for leisure, inspiration, or for soul upliftment. Each song is targeted at a particular audience.
There are those who enjoy Broadways; there are those who enjoy Classical; some prefer Negro spirituals; all These are for the targeted audience. The beautiful thing about operatic music is that it cuts across all race and meets the demands of its audience at all time.
What is Operatic Music?
Wiki defines operatic singing as a form of theatre in which music is a leading role, or a significant part of the Singers take theatre and parts.
This is different from musical theatre as the later most times has no form of “play” in its “work” typically an opera is a collaboration between a librettist and a composer, Incorporating a number of performing arts which includes acting, costume, dancing and scenery.
Sometimes ballet which is usually rendered in an opera house and always accompanied by an orchestra if it’s a big opera house or a smaller ensemblement of musical instruments lead by a conductor.
Its stars are called opera singers, and to become an opera singer means you would have to train harder than all other musicians and change your lifestyle, e.g. what you eat, or drink.
And one would also learn multiple languages cause operatic music covers many languages with its primary languages including Latin, French, English, Germany and even Russian. And one had to learn to memorise the songs as opera singers sing without a script giving them room to enact the song.
This genre is one that doesn’t really have that many singers but it’s a form of music that flourished in countries like England, Italy, France, and the whole of Europe.
History of Operatic Music
The word opera can be translated as “work” in Italy both in the sense that results in production and labour done. This word derived from the Latin word opera which is a singular noun meaning “work” and also the a plural of the noun opus.
Dafne, an opera work by Jacopo Peri, was the earliest composition considered as what is understood as opera today.
An elite circle of Florentine humanists largely inspired Opera written around 1597, and
literate who was known as the “Camerata de’ Bardi”. He attempted to revive the classical Greek drama which ultimately leads to the creation of Dafne.
Members of the Camerata believed that the “chorus” parts of Greek dramas are originally sung and possibly the entire text of the times taken by its actors.
One could say this led to the birth of operatic singing. There’s no doubt that the northern courts of Italy “Florence”, especially the Medici family were a great influence in the birth of operatic singing in the century.
The confluence of three cultural forces that made the birth of operatic singing possible are the way the Florentine view music and music’s relation to the cosmos. The established theatrical tradition they had and a strong sense of civic humanism.
Operatic Singing in contemporary time
Compared to the classical era. Contemporary time had really been lacking behind when it comes to delivering operas. After the First World War, It just looks like the inspirations related to opera singing was just dying out gradually.
Now in contemporary times you still see opera house doing more of the master’s works like Johan Christian Bach, Ludwing Beethoven, Handel and the likes.
This shows that the volume of work contributed by contemporary time composers is nothing compared to the work of the masters. Regardless of these some opera houses still attempt some new works, but they are usually not nearly as good as the classical works.
Being an Operatic Singer
For one to be an operatic singer, he or she must be a good Soprano, tenor, Alto or Bass singer.
He or she should have the ability to learn songs within a short period of time and have a vocal range that cover at most three octaves higher or three-octave lowe. And these voices are usually divided into Small voice textures;
For example, you have Basso profundo, you have Counter Tenor Mezzo, and coloratura and so on. Each unique voice has the ability to correctly render a song due to its texture that’s why songs are mainly written for specific voice type.
Is operatic singing difficult?
This is one of the majorly asked questions. Well truth be told, operatic singing is the most challenging style of singing, cause it’s an artist has to learn how to sing in various languages. They have to really work hard on their voice texture if they really want to stand out among other artists.
A prospective opera singer must possess the ability to learn songs faster and memories the words for a particular song. They must continuously take care of their voice to avoid their voice going bad or losing shape.
Are opera singers well paid?
In the United States, opera singers are paid around $1000 $15000 for each performance this already. Discourages those who go into opera singing as its not a job that helps one rack up money.
Most opera singers are those who genuinely have an absolute love and passion for opera singing.
How can I be an opera singer?
It’s a pain that most of our local choirs lack what it takes to give individuals the necessary push that would enable them to start up a career as opera singers.
As most of this choir are themselves not well developed to be seen as a standard choir. Only very few choirs can really give this push and insight into what an operatic singer should do.
But some people had groomed their voice to sound really beautiful just by listening to opera singers. And this way their voice gets used to the style of singing in
no time.
Start a music school
This is the best way to be an operatic singer. By joining a music school, one increases the rate of learning and gets the proper teachings of the rudiments of operatic singing.
