Opera Lively singing contest

[Anne of Green Gables]

That's something that came to my mind out of the blue but it's hilarious, dig it.

I guess all (or most of) opera lovers enjoy singing their favourite stuff when nobody can hear them. How about contest which would provide opportunity to hear how people that have no (or very little) education in this matter, who never sing neither in public, perhaps not even for their friends, do sing great and difficult works. First thing that comes to your mind is: "but such contest will hardly produce anything that could be listened for pure enjoyment of listening to music!". Well, yes, and that's the beauty of it - amateur recordings with no accompaniament, made by cheap home microphones, omitting difficult ornaments and coloratura parts, even hitting wrong notes from time to time, but done with heart of opera lover. I know there is much of this fear of being ridiculous but it's won't be a tragedy if some people from e-community will hear that you're not Callas or Pavarotti. The rules of the contest are another story but let's leave it for the future if the idea will find approval. We don't need to make it right away, perhaps in future when community will get bigger.

Che invenzione, che invenzione, prelibata, bella, bella, bravo, in verita!

[sospiro]

Fantastic idea

For everyone except me

[AnaMendoza]

Fantastic idea

For everyone except me

And me!

[Meaghan]

Aramis, if you have the balls to sing for opera lovers on the internet, well then, I'll do it too. This sounds like (very embarrassing) fun!

[Anne of Green Gables]

Aramis, if you have the balls to sing for opera lovers on the internet, well then, I'll do it too. This sounds like (very embarrassing) fun!

Well, we all know that the best fun of all funs is the embrassing fun. I'll hold you at your word.

[AnaMendoza]

I remember reading, in an Elizabeth Peters mystery/suspense novel, about the main character, confident that no one could hear her, singing: "The mad scene from Lucia di Lammermoor, arranged for untrained contralto."

[Meaghan]

I remember reading, in an Elizabeth Peters mystery/suspense novel, about the main character, confident that no one could hear her, singing: "The mad scene from Lucia di Lammermoor, arranged for untrained contralto."

Haha! That will be me.

[sospiro]

I get a bit worried when the cows show an interest at my flat sing-a-long to medaglie incomparabili.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I get a bit worried when the cows show an interest at my flat sing-a-long to medaglie incomparabili.

Do you do all the accents? Looking forward to a rendition in July!

[Aksel]

I'm in. For my number, I will sing the aria Chi disprezza gl'infelici from Rossini's opera Ciro in Babylonia, perhaps one of his most entertaining arias, especially considering the circumstances under which it was composed.

“I had an awful seconda donna for my opera, Ciro in Babilonia. Besides being hideously ugly, she had the most wretched voice. After trying it with the utmost care I discovered that she possessed one single good note ... So I wrote an aria for her in which she had nothing but this note to sing. All the rest I put into the orchestra, and as it was liked and applauded, my singer of the one note was delighted with her triumph.” -- Gioacchino Rossini

[Anne of Green Gables]

That makes three participants so far, I'll say this makes some sense already. More or less surprisingly this number consists of the youngest part of the forum. Anyone else at least feels young enough to join us?

To second Aksel's declaration, I'm going to make duet from last act of Don Pasquale between D.P/Malatesta.

[Almaviva]

That makes three participants so far, I'll say this makes some sense already. More or less surprisingly this number consists of the youngest part of the forum. Anyone else at least feels young enough to join us?

To second Aksel's declaration, I'm going to make duet from last act of Don Pasquale between D.P/Malatesta.

Oldies can do it too. I'm in. I'll sing Non Piu Andrai from Le Nozze di Figaro (I'm sure I'll sound pretty ridiculous, especially for the coloratura parts, LOL).
But you have to tell me how to manage the technical side of it. What do I do, do I record a Windows wave file and upload it somewhere, then I provide a link to the file? Or do I make a YouTube clip? Be specific (step by step instructions) because I have never dealt with uploading any sound files or uploading a YouTube file or anything like this.

[Anne of Green Gables]

But you have to tell me how to manage the technical side of it. What do I do, do I record a Windows wave file and upload it somewhere, then I provide a link to the file? Or do I make a YouTube clip? Be specific (step by step instructions) because I have never dealt with uploading any sound files or uploading a YouTube file or anything like this.

Windows recorder is enough, you may also use free and easy program called Audacity which is very fine recording/sound edit software - that would let you cut and rerecord selected parts instead of making the whole aria by one approach without possibility to edit selected parts, fix loudness etc. It may sound scary but it's easy and to be done in few minutes.

Then you should convert it to mp3 or save it in this format at first place for your own comfort because wav files are heavy and thus are annoying to upload or send. Also, many sound-publishing sites don't accept them. You can do it with Audacity or any other of very, very many free converters to be found by googling "wav to mp3".

As for uploading it... since I'm sort of the organizer, I will create special SoundCloud profile for our little project. All participants will send their sound files to my e-mail, if someone will have some hard time with converting to mp3, I'll fix the file to proper format after receiving it in wav. Then I will upload all of them to the profile.

(Don't be afraid, I won't send those files to DG asking for commercial release)

[Almaviva]

Windows recorder is enough, you may also use free and easy program called Audacity which is very fine recording/sound edit software - that would let you cut and rerecord selected parts instead of making the whole aria by one approach without possibility to edit selected parts, fix loudness etc. It may sound scary but it's easy and to be done in few minutes.

Then you should convert it to mp3 or save it in this format at first place for your own comfort because wav files are heavy and thus are annoying to upload or send. Also, many sound-publishing sites don't accept them. You can do it with Audacity or any other of very, very many free converters to be found by googling "wav to mp3".

As for uploading it... since I'm sort of the organizer, I will create special SoundCloud profile for our little project. All participants will send their sound files to my e-mail, if someone will have some hard time with converting to mp3, I'll fix the file to proper format after receiving it in wav. Then I will upload all of them to the profile.

(Don't be afraid, I won't send those files to DG asking for commercial release)

No, you *should* send my version of Non Piu Andrai to DG because I'm sure the whole world will fall in love with it. I offer you 15% of the profits.

I think this project will be a lot of fun. I hope more people join.

[sospiro]

Do you do all the accents?

Of course! I do a very good screechy Badate: è roba fragile! but Ruggero's English accent on oriundo della China is actually better than mine.

Looking forward to a rendition in July!

Not half as much as I am.