Opera! The Musical Excerpts

The Story Behind OPERA! The Musical

The idea for OPERA! hit upon its creator while on an airplane. He was watching Seinfeld’s classic Broadway episode, “Rochelle, Rochelle”- the in-flight entertainment on a red-eye to New York. It came to him suddenly- the ins and outs of the theater world were funny enough to be spoofed by the most popular TV show of all time, and Mamma Mia had huge success taking its soundtrack from established hit music.

What music has a world-wide fan base and is still selling tickets after two hundred years? Opera! It’s amazing to think that this show has not yet been done. Composing and recording software bring brand-new technology that produces a richer presentation of harmonies than the traditional live orchestra pit, at a fraction of the cost. With a new story, fresh lyrics, and painstaking, note-for-note transcription of the material, the show incorporates elements of rock, jazz, and hip-hop into the arrangements of these time-honored pieces.

How do you capture the subtlety of Puccini or the delicacy of Mozart? That was the challenge in making Opera! The Musical work. The answer lay in a technology that was emerging as the first notes of the score were being penned -- The Digital Orchestra.

One of the most contentious issues in Broadway production of late has been skyrocketing costs associated with day-to-day operations, including musicians. In 2003 producers struck a deal with union leaders reducing the required number of musicians from 26 to 18. In addition, producers had the option of applying for an exemption if the design of the production did not necessitate such a large orchestra.

Opera! the Musical’s state-of-the-art arrangement and orchestra offer unprecedented flexibility in production and allow for full scalability of its production. Should an exemption be denied, live musicians can be incorporated into the show on stage, providing an even richer theatrical experience.

Digital Orchestra is actually one instrument, with eleven operators. Each member of the orchestra is actually using a controller which sends messages to a central computer. Opera! the Musical is not just music theory-it has already been performed! All of the demos for the show were actually recorded using the same process, all on one computer, in one handbuilt studio.

Story, Design, Arrangement, Preproduction are all by David Martorano, additional arrangements by the amazing Gordy Haab. Storyboards by Caroline Hu.

Vocalists

Violetta - Alison England

Felicia - Juliet Lyons

Terry - Kurtis Simmons

All other Vocals - David Martorano