A Night At The Opera
Feb. 26th, 2012 11:30 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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queensthiefHow about an Opera of The Thief? Or even better, the Queen of Attolia?
http://neil-gaiman.tumblr.com/post/18172868256/eno-announces-mini-operas-a-worldwide-online-talent
http://neil-gaiman.tumblr.com/post/18172868256/eno-announces-mini-operas-a-worldwide-online-talent
Any suggestions from the Oh So Fertile Sounis Bunch? Script? Songs? Score? Have at it, Sounisians!
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Date: 2/26/12 06:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2/26/12 06:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2/27/12 04:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2/26/12 06:53 pm (UTC)Overture:
Begins with theme for Attolian nation. As it progresses, we see the Thief’s attempt to escape his pursuers in mime. The music becomes more heightened and dramatic, culminating in Gen being captured and imprisoned. Second movement of overture – shift to melancholy, wistful sound. We see the Queen of Attolia, standing proud and alone, at the other end of the stage from where Gen is imprisoned.
Act 1:
Crowd song – chorus between ladies of the court and soldiers giving exposition about the terrible, daring Thief of Eddis, who stole Hiamathes’ Gift and posed such a danger to their queen. They jubilate in his capture but worry about Eddis’s reaction.
Entrance of Attolia.
Attolia – aria about how as a woman ruler, she needs to be cruel and subordinate her emotions to the good of her kingdom.
Entrance of Ambassadors from Eddis and the Mede Empire. Trio, in which Ornon provokes Attolia and Nathueresh shows his influence over her as she decides not to kill Gen. The chorus comment on the power of the Mede Empire.
Aria – Gen in prison. ‘O my God, if you will not save me, make me less afraid.’ Sets up theme of faith and religion, show Gen’s fear and near-despair.
Arrival of Attolia and guards. Duet, setting up the relationship between them. Gen cannot resist taunting about what a brilliant thief he was. Gen: I was the thief in the night. I was the watcher who crept through your palaces. I can steal anything! Attolia points out that he is in her power now. Attolia: You cannot steal the chains, nor steal yourself from my walls. You cannot steal yourself. Gen: Neither can you.
Attolia sings (to herself?) that the punishment for thieves was the loss of a hand, and that she will do what she must. Gen gets his hand chopped off – instrumental?
End of Act 1.
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Date: 2/26/12 06:54 pm (UTC)Arrival of Eddis. The set-up of her court shown to be in contrast to Attolia’s – unlike the lowland queen, she is supported by her various ministers/cousins, not left in isolation. Everyone angered and grieved by Gen’s condition.
Scene – Eddis and various Attolian soldiers/ambassadors/messengers, coming in succession – showing Eddis ordering the trade caravans confiscated, the Attolian response and the escalation of threats on both sides – culminating in Eddis’ ”War, then.”
Chorus – the country begins preparing for war, but everyone is still worried about Gen.
Act 3 – Gen and his massive angst. What can he steal one-handed? He is crippled and in pain, and for the first time in his life, he doubts his abilities and his gods. Attolia gets two scenes interwoven with Gen’s – in one she interacts with the court and Nathuseresth, but sings in soliloquy how she cannot stop feeling guilty over Gen’s maiming. She wonders what he meant when he said that she can’t steal herself, either. Remembers how young and helpless he looked. In her second appearance, she takes up the theme again, but remembers herself, when she was young and helpless. Heartbreaking Exposition Aria about how she came to poison her bridegroom and take the throne.
Act 4 – Lots of action in this one. Gen and companions go to Attolia to do something to stop the war. The boat/stairs scene follows the books fairly closely, as Gen declares his love. She tells him that when she wears his earrings, she will marry him willingly – not before. Ends in arrival of the Mede and Gen’s re-capture.
Act 5 – Begins with Attolia and Nahuseresh enthroned. Courtiers, soldiers of both Attolia and Mede (but rather more of the latter…) and captured Eddisians before them. She sings that she must do what is best for her country, and asks the Eddisians (including Gen?) to take their queen her message. They (and the audience) get the message. Nathuseresh does not.
Scene with Attolia and Nathuseresh watching the battle. Again, follows the book fairly closely as Attolia displays how awesome she is, and narrates what is happening in the battle.
Attolia and Eddis meet for the first time and are awesome together. In their duet, we see the contrast in their approaches as Attolia starts to unbend and show her vulnerability.
Gen and Attolia. Unheard by each other, she wonders how he could love her and he sings about how much he loves her and wants to break through the walls she’s erected. They slowly come together and admit their love. I've no idea really about how it should end.
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Date: 2/26/12 07:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2/27/12 12:10 am (UTC)They (and the audience) get the message. Nathuseresh does not.
( I didn't either, the first time I read it ...)
Gen should have a deep base voice. It would do the sad parts really well. Or a baritone would do, not quite so heavy... And Nahuseresh definetly has a squeaky tenor... an annoying voice to go with his slimey personality (apologies to those who like tenors, they aren't my style :)
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Date: 2/27/12 01:56 am (UTC)In my opinion, that is, but I have a musical mind, not operatic one, so in my head it has a lot of, um, humor. Which is hard, because everyone knows KoA is the funny book. :P
ETA: And now I'm imagining Gen as Figaro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largo_al_factotum). Agh! "Make way for me! I'm Eugenides!" Maybe The Thief could be opera buffa?
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Date: 2/27/12 03:32 am (UTC)Details! We want details!
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Date: 2/28/12 12:37 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 3/1/12 12:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2/27/12 09:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2/27/12 11:26 pm (UTC)THE THIEF OF EDDIS
Attolia:
In sleep he slipped into
My room so dim
Those earrings by my bed
Were left by him
And do I dream again?
In shadowed gloom
The Thie-ie-ief of E-eddis* seems there *(sounds better as Eedis than Eddis)
Inside my room
Eugenides:
Play once again with me
at cat and mouse
As I slip silently
Throughout your house
And though you turn from me
To glance behind
Eugenides, Eugenides is there
Inside your mind
Attolia:
Those who have seen my face
Draw back in fear
It is a mask I wear
Eugenides:
To me it's clear
Both:
And though/since you've/I've chopped my/your hand
And made me/you ill
I know that it's quite possible/impossible that I/you
Can/can't love you/me still
Offstage voices:
He's there, the Thie-ie-ief of E-eddis...
Beware the Thie-ie-ief of E-eddis...
Eugenides:
In all your fantasies
You surely knew
Those ruby ea-earrings
Attolia:
Were brought by you
BOTH:
And in this labyrinth
Great-grandpa built
The Thie-ie-ief of E-edis
is there beside your quilt (see? See? I'm a poetic *genius*!)
Reign, my Queen of Attolia!
Attolia:
He's there,
the Thie-ie-ief of E-eddis . .
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Date: 2/27/12 11:48 pm (UTC)Yes, you are a poetic genius - Great job!!
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Date: 2/28/12 12:27 am (UTC)That fit the music PERFECTLY!!!!!!!
The Phantom is one of my favorite musicals/operas *cues playing air piano*
GREAT JOB!!! :)
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Date: 2/28/12 12:35 am (UTC)In this labyrinth Great-grandpa build!
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Date: 2/28/12 12:52 am (UTC)ChristineLeslie?Bravo!
Brilliantly done.
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Date: 2/28/12 12:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2/29/12 02:06 am (UTC)