How to Write an Opera in Five Simple Steps - YouTube

How to Write an Opera in 5 Steps - Sabrina Pena Young

Find a Great Dramatic Story - You need a strong story to write a compelling opera. Fortunately you can easily borrow from thousands of public domain works and modernize them. Think of West Side Story (just a contemporary version of Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet). Many great operas use Shakespeare, the Brothers Grimm, and Biblical stories, all of which include interesting characters, strong themes, and action. It's all about the Libretto: Before you start your opera, you need a libretto. The libretto is the storyline, lyrics, and dramatic direction of your opera. Think of it as a screenplay or script, but for music. If you are not a writer, like I happen to be, then I highly recommend that you pair up with a poet or seasoned librettist. This partnership will ensure that your opera combines the best talents of both artists. The last thing you want to hear is that the music was great but that the story, well, stunk. Organization: Depending on the level of collaboration, you may find yourself working with a much larger group of artists than normal. This works well for the more garrulous of composers, but for those who often enjoy the solitude of composition, the amount of interactive work may be a shock. I suggest getting organized, or as organized as a right-brain creative person can get.