Background opera music for a play

Well, we're kind of gonna have this play where the main villain is gonna be playing some opera music in his office, he's a real evil character, also it's gonna be played under a death scene where he shoots another guy so my question for you guys if you know any intense or on the verge of sounding grotesque opera pieces with lots of high in pitch opera singing that could heighten the atmosphere? Any tips would be appreciated, I'll look them all through and see what fits the most.

Pilfer Don Giovanni for stuff! Lots of cool scraggy in there...

Wozzeck maybe? How about some good ol' Ring Cycle? Wagner usually has high piercing sopranos! ;)

How about some good ol' Ring Cycle? Wagner usually has high piercing sopranos!

Why do you want it so in-your-face obvious and un-subtle? Opposites would be even more effective. Something beautiful, quaint, happy even. It would highlight the "evil" of the villain even more.

Das Lied Von Der Erde

Wagner would be my first choice to look at. I'm no opera expert, but I know that Wagner's sopranos are forced to sing outrageously high, and could fit what you are looking for perfectly.

Das Lied Von Der Erde

Beautiful piece by Mahler really, I reccomend it as well.

Wagner would be my first choice to look at. I'm no opera expert, but I know that Wagner's sopranos are forced to sing outrageously high, and could fit what you are looking for perfectly.

I agree dang Wagner......:angry:, Although his flight of the valykerie is ok...

I agree dang Wagner......:angry:

At least I'm not a soprano...

*realizes that his statement is wrong* :O Never mind. :P

Christ-i get so sick of Wagner so quickly. My suggestion is something incredibly subtle. Something non operatic i would suggest would be Adagio in G Minor (T. G. Albinoni). However if you want something from an opera, something that would be nice and contrasting would be Fragments of a Prayer (John Tavener and Sarah Connelly). Or something that could be incredibly heavy contrast would be Verdi's Quid Sum Miser. that movement makes me go weeping lol.

Hope this helps.

I agree considering its for a play, just a background, not the forefront Try some of the 4 villian themes in Tales of Hoffman or Don Giovanni. They are evil, but subtle, they could work great.

Good Luck!

I'm no opera expert, but I know that Wagner's sopranos are forced to sing outrageously high, and could fit what you are looking for perfectly.

Wagner asked people to sing bel canto. Most just ignore that and ruin the opera.

Yeah, some opera singers can be real divas... :P

Anyway, someone mentioned something of different character, and I don't think that that's a bad idea. Also another one to consider is Queen of the Night, by... I can't remember if it's Mozart or someone else, but I think it's Mozart.

Yeah, some opera singers can be real divas... :P

Anyway, someone mentioned something of different character, and I don't think that that's a bad idea. Also another one to consider is Queen of the Night, by... I can't remember if it's Mozart or someone else, but I think it's Mozart.

One way to cause me pain is to take that piece from Zauberflote (the one that florence Foster Jenkins butchers) and play it. Yes it is mozart but don't do it. Find something in a minor key. Play the Toccata and Fuga in d minor or the Fantasia in G minor BWV 542 (don't do the Fugue). Or if you want something tremendously outrageous, the second movement of Kalevi Aho's contrabassoon concerto (I always crack up dying of laughter).

Yeah, some opera singers can be real divas... :P

Anyway, someone mentioned something of different character, and I don't think that that's a bad idea. Also another one to consider is Queen of the Night, by... I can't remember if it's Mozart or someone else, but I think it's Mozart.

Of course it's Mozart!!! ARGGG!!! (Sorry vocal side coming through)

If you for some BIZZZARE reason choose the Queen of the Night Aria from Act II, which I do not suggest, get a recording of Diana Damrau. She is the best. No one even comes close to how perfectly she sings this aria.

Of course it's Mozart!!! ARGGG!!! (Sorry vocal side coming through)

If you for some BIZZZARE reason choose the Queen of the Night Aria from Act II, which I do not suggest, get a recording of Diana Damrau. She is the best. No one even comes close to how perfectly she sings this aria.

Need i remind you that while Damrau's is the best, I think most people can settle for Dessay although i consider it a sin to settle for dessay since damrau is much better lol.

Yes it is mozart but don't do it. Find something in a minor key.

Queen of the night is in the minor...

Yes, I believe that it is in C minor, or G minor... I haven't seen the music for it (I can't sing it... yet... :P )

Yes, I believe that it is in C minor, or G minor... I haven't seen the music for it (I can't sing it... yet... )

There is a youtube clip of a young boy singing it, so you have chance.

Not anymore. I can't go beyond the high C, so I'm out of the race for that one. :( Is that REALLY a bad thing...(?)

Queen of the Night aria is in d minor.

And can leave the coloratura soprano arias to the coloratura sopranos? Please.

YouTube - Male Soprano - castrato

Shame, I assume you have an adam's apple?

Thats REALLY disturbing.

And so is this!! 3 guys singing the Cosi fan tutte trio, Soave Sia il vento

2 are trying to be sopranos and the other is ton deaf!!! HAHA. Its sad how they have destroyed an amazing, haunting, beautiful trio!!!

YouTube - Soave Sia il Vento

Thats REALLY disturbing.

Yeah, the adult man is a bit... well, TOO good at soprano singing... :wacko: I can live with the two young boys though...

Shame, I assume you have an adam's apple?

Do you mean my voice is changing? I'm STARTING to get a bit of an Adam's Apple, to answer your question quite literally. :)

Do you mean my voice is changing? I'm STARTING to get a bit of an Adam's Apple, to answer your question quite literally.

Mea culpa. I make the ridiculous assumption most things Mozart writes are in a major key because I can only listen to most of mozart's piece when I'm happy (so I seldom ever listen to Mozart unless it's something like the c minor mass).

C minor mass actually could work.