Want to sing classical for an opera demo?

Subject: Want to sing classical for an opera demo
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 07:44 PM

When my brother, the classical composer, lived with us, I used to hear his new compositions on a daily basis. That was years ago and I didn't realise how much I actually missed it until today. Today, he brought over the "magic" keyboard with all kinds of different sounds on it and played excerpts from the opera he is working on. It is like nothing he has ever written before and I have to say, despite it being by my brother, it is gorgeous music, imo. I have always said I never promoted his music because of him, it was always because of the music, itself. Anyway, I was blown away with the beauty of the songs in his opera. (It is all tonal, no avant garde crap!:-)

So, I guess I am going to help him with some promotion for the first time in years. What I want to do is make a demo CD of some of the songs from this opera and send them out to various opera companies, etc.

Would any of you be willing and/or able to sing one or two songs for demo purposes? He's got parts for baritone, tenor, soprano and bass. I figure if you don't read music, he can play the tune and I can send it by email. I envision voice files sent to me, then him playing from his study score, the orchestra's part, and putting the two together.

Does this make any sense and are any of you interested and/or willing? I cannot promise any monetary compensation, but you would get credit for your voice and a free CD of that, plus his other works if you are interested in classical at all. Micca can vouch for some of his works, as he's had tapes of them.

If this isn't anything any of you are interested in, that's okay. I understand. I figure it couldn't hurt to ask!:-)

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 09:14 PM

Kat - That sounds like fun - IF you can 'sing' - I can fake vocals -
good Luck

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 09:47 PM

Thanks, that's about where I am at, too, though I did used to sing some of his songs in concert for him.:->

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: maeve
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:45 PM

I'd be up for it but I usually sing alto and don't have access to the technical stuff for making voice files. I hope this project does happen.

Keep us posted, please.

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 11:00 AM

Thanks, maeve. I appreciate it!

I might add, I don't think one has to have a classical-trained voice. Good breathing, phrasing etc. are just as important in trad, etc., imo. I certainly am not trained that way and have done well, in the past.:-)

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 11:45 PM

One more time in case others haven't seen this...

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: Mrs Banjiman
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 02:06 PM

This sounds very interesting. I can sing mezzo-sop (so it depends how high the sop part goes) and have done quite a lot of light opera and choral singing in the past, though I do trady folk stuff now. I can probably read enough music to make sense of any score sent through.

Is living in the UK a problem for this project, as I believe you are USA based?

cheers for now,
Wendy

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 02:22 PM

Thanks, Wendy! I don't think location matters as long as you can record and send an audio file by email. I'll ask my brother about the sop. parts. It will take some time to put together as my time is limited and he will have to copy out the parts, but I'd like to keep a steady pace at it. It really deserves to be heard, imo.:-) Thank you, again!

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: Stewart
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 02:25 PM

Well, I used to sing in opera workshops - a long time ago - and have had vocal training. Now it's just singing folk music. But I might give it a try. I'm a baritone. You can PM me or contact me from my web site.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 02:48 PM

Thanks, Stewart!! This is great folks. I really appreciate it. I will be in touch, for sure.

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 05:12 PM

Just a thought ... maybe Liz the Squeak can help.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 05:12 PM

Sounds interesting.... Sop to counter tenor (on a bad day) if you want to explain in simple terms what I have to do... :D

LTS

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 06:09 PM

Thanks! I was hoping you might see this, Liz, as Micca has sung (pun intended) your praises! As I said, it's going to take a little bit for my brother to extract what he has for each voice. He's got the first act completed and is just starting the second act. I think he is going to start adding to his blog, finally, so when he does I'll put a link in here. He was really pleased when I called to tell him of your interest. Thanks, everyone!

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: IvanB
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 11:42 PM

kat, I'd be happy to try out the tenor part. I've done a fair amount of choral singing as well as tenor solos in both Messiah and Faure's Requiem. Can read music as well as learn by rote, so either fashion is fine with me.

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: GUEST,Loretta
Date: 11 Sep 08 - 10:00 AM

Where are you located? I'm a trained operatic soprano looking for a project to delve into. If you're still looking, you may email me at [e-mail] I am in Florida..the Boca Raton area. I could provide samples of my voice also....however if you have already found someone for the soprano role(S) then disregard this message. :)

Subject: RE: Want to sing classical for an opera demo?
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Sep 08 - 02:06 PM

Thanks, Loretta! We are in Colorado. My brother is slow going at getting things ready to send to those of you who have said you'd be interested. I will post more as soon as I have it.