Great Opera has remained popular for many years, spanning the centuries from its early beginnings to present-day productions. Jacopo Peri’s Dafne is often thought of as the first-ever opera, performed in 1598. But what do we call opera that has been written more recently? There are a few terms that are used: modern, contemporary, and new.
Though we are in the 21st Century, pieces that were written after 1945 are still considered to be contemporary pieces when we discuss the modern age of Opera. Probably because our current century is only 21 years old and opera continued to evolve after the impact of recording technology, the World Wars, worldwide television broadcasting, and the invention and accessibility of the internet.
Composers sought to express contemporary experience and reassess the role of opera in modern society. I think it is important to celebrate and sing 21st Century opera, as it promotes a representation of the world that we are living in now or reconnect with old themes and values through a contemporary lens. During my studies, I loved working with student composers. I found their ambition and ability to imagine where music could voyage and explore what musical traits would develop into their own musical language fascinating. I have been fortunate to work with living composers on a variety of productions. I really enjoy this style of collaboration, especially in the rehearsal room and in research and development periods, as it is a gift to be able to ask a composer directly about their musical choices.
I thought I would share a list of the contemporary operas that I have performed, to give you a glimpse at the variety that contemporary opera brings in only 20 years or so. I can only imagine what is left in store for the next 80 years, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.
- Pandora in the Fire of Olympus by Tim Benjamin (2019)
Uccellina in BambinO by Lliam Paterson (2017)
The Woman in Reign by Nino Russell (2016)
Jane in The Cabinet of Dr Caligari by Karen McIver (2016)
Jessie Junior in Little White Town of Never Weary by Karen McIver (2016)
Eve in Walk from the Garden by Jonathan Dove (2012)
Maria Bertram in Mansfield Park by Jonathan Dove (2011)
The Controller in Flight by Jonathan Dove (RCM Opera Scene) (1998)
You write very nice thinghs about opéra and you do grat thinghs about the Opéra knowledge by public. Congrat from Sicily my friend !!!!! xx
Bonsoir Pascal, comment ça va? Mon frère Tom était en lune de miel en Sicile. I hope that you are getting plenty of inspiration and rest there.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Your smile is wonderful !!
Thank you 😊
Best wishes
Charlotte
😘
So many wonderful oppotunities you’ve had – working with the new operas must be thrilling for you!
Onward.
At college you do an awful lot of work on standard repertoire and older more established operas and finding these modern contemporary pieces can be a revelation because without them the art form may not have a secure future. It has to be kept alive and we can’t just rest our laurels on the favourites although these will always have a special place and regular performances (they often try to modernise the setting which sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t). Always looking forward Sheila, just trying to put all my contemporary opera memories in one post. Hope you’re doing well, have a great week ahead.
Best wishes
Charlotte
My goodness you are a busy lady Charlotte! I am so happy for you and your success is so well deserved. Sometimes, nice people finish first!
Thank you Cindy, I was on track before Covid 😊 , I keep working towards getting back and tried to put all of my contemporary opera memories in one blog post.
Best wishes always,
Charlotte
You are creating living, modern art! Brava!!
Thank you Annette, congratulations on your 15th book in print you are so creative and an inspiration to me.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Nice variety of contemporary operas.
I was fortunate to be given these roles, it was almost as if the roles chose me rather than me choosing them if you know what I mean. I study standard repertoire roles that I’d like to do and hope I’ll get an opportunity to do them. With contemporary they are often brand new, hot off the press.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Looks like you’re going to be a busy lady. Question if I may? Have you ever sung ‘Time to say goodbye’?
Yes, lots of times, it is better as a duet but can be adapted for a solo. I actually recorded it for my Grandpas funeral but a mix up meant it wasn’t played sadly, he loved it. I sang it once in a duet at Buxton Opera House in a big Tideswell Male Voice Choir show. It’s on one of our balcony concerts too but I can’t remember which one. Do you like it? If you do I’ll find which balcony concert it is on 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I do really love that song yes. I watched it a number of times on those fantastic balcony concerts you done. Is it difficult to remember another language when you sing?
What an impressive CV. And I agree with you about the need for contemporary opera. (and ballet, etc).
I was hoping to do two more contemporary roles but covid put paid to them during lockdown and when they were rebooked I’d already accepted other roles that I discovered clashed. I’ve seen a couple of contemporary operas that I didn’t enjoy but that is what new work is all about challenging your perspective and each opera did have elements that I did like and found interesting.
Best wishes
Charlotte
The concert hall and the opera house need to be living, breathing things, not museums. Although I love old music, I think new music needs to be pushed. I have a lot of respect for artists that promote new music. Very cool that you have been able to perform in so many 21st century works! I hope that you have the chance to help define some great roles in the future 🙂
Thank you Trent, I recently had an audition offer me a role which I’m happy to do, new work is often more challenging but it allows you to put yourself into the part and not just meet people’s expectations by sounding like someone else that made the role popular. It’s easy for a singer to commit to a regularly repeated role because there are more chances of work in that role so learning it can potentially have more earning opportunities, however, I always like the thrill of new work and of course Uccelina has been a good repeat role for me and I grow with the part and add new elements every time I get a chance to perform it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I’m sure you can have a character grow as you grow as an artist, so that must be rewarding, but still, having a clean slate to create, that has to be a thrill 🙂
Promises to be a fruitful century, Charlotte, and with you and others leading the way, it will be. Already I see it is a century of great change by the inclusion of female composers.
Hi Don, I left a message but it disappeared into a Nonze error so that’s a new one on me so if you get two messages you know why. I always enjoyed composing classes and started composing as a Junior at the Royal Northern College of Music, sadly my ability to compose the music didn’t keep up with my imagination, I knew what I wanted to create I just didn’t have the understanding to do it, so I really admire other women who do take the time to learn these skills and more of them are emerging now after a concerted effort to empower women to do it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I love the idea of new music being created while the classics continue on. You are such a force of Nature in this area, Charlotte.
Thank you GP, there are lots of challenges with new music for a start you have to start from scratch with no previous recordings to guide you and the expectations of the composer are high as they are often close by when you do the research weeks or at the rehearsals. Singers like to learn well used classic repertoire as there are more opportunities to audition with those songs but I do like the complete challenge of new works.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I knew you would.
Wonderful variety of opera, Charlotte! 💜
Thank you, I have enjoyed all the roles, Eve was the first woman on earth and Pandora the first woman in Greek mythology so I enjoyed that comparison.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Dear Charlotte!
I visited every link. I knew some posts, some were before we met.
Wonderful post! Thank you!
So, I mailed you 2 drawings. Both are the same…but one is bold and free feeling, the other is more contained and pretty.
Excited to hear what you think!!!
Resa xo
Thank you Resa so much for your encouragement and support, I need to update my website and I wanted to create a link for 21st Century opera roles and realised I’d not actually ever put them together. I’m glad you got to see some of my old projects.
The drawings were fabulous, hard to pick between them, I like the more pink version but I do like bold and wear red it is a very empowering colour, seriously I can’t choose, I always used to get told off by my Mum for wearing pink and red together hehe. I’ll go with your designer eye. I will get back to you by e-mail.
Best wishes
Charlotte
You are my fave…my only Soprano.
I’m back on Art Gowns! Now we can get our post going. I’m going to make up a working title for our post. We can change that at our will.
Okay … I need to make dinner soon, but I am starting this first.
Love red and pink together. xoxo
Quite a selection. Compliments. I somehow feel relieved that you and certainly other young people are working so hard to give a new life to Art. (Sounds corny but it ‘s what you really do…)
Great job. 👏🏻🌹
Thank you Brian, I did a reply to you but for some reason it has disappeared, a nonze error? I’m very busy at the moment trying to find work, getting ready for auditions, making recordings and promoting myself, oh for a fairy godmother hehe.
Best wishes
Charlotte
No worry Charlotte. I know you are good at that promotion thing, but I also imagine it can be at times frustrating and most times, very time consuming…
Tous mes voeux…
🙏🏻
Oh. And your skirt fit perfectly with the background. 😉
Thank you, I hadn’t realised how much yellow I had in my wardrobe until I did a swap out of winter clothes with the summer clothes I store at my parents, yay for sunshine ☀️.
Yes it seems strange to call works modern from the 1900s onward. I do like modern art though, I studied fine art at high school and was sad I had to drop it to specialise in the performing arts, but I still paint in fact I’ve startled George by deciding to paint a mural on one of our walls this weekend.
LOL. “Here comes the sun…”
And re-re-PS. Your point about “modern” is well taken. Went to New York last year, jumped to the MOMA first thing I could, which confirmed that. “Modern” paintings executed in 1912? A century ago? Maybe not so modern? 😉
I am so glad that opera continues to be created, and of course, that you are in the middle of it, Charlotte! I wish I could attend one of your performances. Have you ever done any Gilbert and Sullivan?
Yes Noelle, I love it. Everything from HMS Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance, Trial by Jury, Iolanthe, I even did a jump in Gondoliers. Do you enjoy G&S?
Best wishes
Charlotte
Nice
Thank you Ayi 😊 thank you for visiting.
Best wishes Charlotte
You have a long and productive career ahead of you, Charlotte, and you will contribute much during your time. Wishing you all the best!
Charlotte,
I, as most, see opera as a form of entertainment. But, your in depth understanding has shown me that it is a way of life. One that you fit so well. Keep entertaining. Keep living it. So many are the better for it.
-Alan