Howard Shore's Opera

Ok, I have heard that Howard Shore has written an opera based off of his score to the The Fly. I have actually more than just heard rumors - I watched a video of Shore talking about it. I don't remember were I saw it, but if I find it agian I will post it here. This is one of my favorite scores so I cannot wait to hear the opera. The opera is to premier at the LA opera house during next years season. It will then move to a couple of other locations including Chatolier (spelling?), France and then Paris, France. The opera was commissioned by Placido Domingo. The Libretto was written by David Henry Wong. I also think that some of the direction on the stage will be done by David Croenberg. That is either something that is true or something that I misheard or misunderstood. It would make sense I guess because David Croenberg is the guy who directed the actual movie.

If you guys know any more about this than I do I would love to hear about it. Also, if you know of any recordings that they may do let me be the first to know about it. I am really wanting to hear this opera!

Hm, interesting. I love his work, I wonder how good this will be.

The Fly is a wonderful score, it's very dissonant, very dramatic. I think it works better as an entity than the LOTR scores, actually, although it's not as lyrical nor accessible.

This is the clip I was talking about. It has a small section in it that talks about Shore's Fly Opera. However, it is very interesting all the way around.

Hans-Zimmer - powered by XMB

First, go and click on the link under the picture of Howard Shore. Rapidshare should open up. Then scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the "free" button as your download choice. Wait for the countdown to dinish, then choose the option that is already choosen for you. Then type in the security code thing and click the download deal next to it and eveything should download.

I know that Howard Shore has always been very affected by operatic music. His score for "The Silence of the Lambs" is entirely inspired by opera.

I'm only hoping he'll do a better job with form and structure on "the Fly" than he did with the LOTR symphony.

I can see the Fly as an opera. I don't know about the staging and all that, it'll be interesting to see how they deal with all the action. I also hope he'll compose new material as well for the opera, since the score to the film is rather limited in scope.

I know that Howard Shore has always been very affected by operatic music. His score for "The Silence of the Lambs" is entirely inspired by opera.

I know this as well. I love Howard Shore and I am a nerd as far as Shore info hunting goes. Anyways, his score to M Butterfly is very Puccini like. I like M Butterfly just as much as The Silence of the Lambs. I think that Shore's entire career (not considering LOTR) has been underrated. However, when you consider Shore's underrated scores as a group unto themselves, I think that M Butterfly is one of the top of the list as most underrated and most deserving of recognition. The Fly is another one of those scores - I believe that it was good enough to win the oscar that year.

I'm only hoping he'll do a better job with form and structure on "the Fly" than he did with the LOTR symphony.

I can see the Fly as an opera. I don't know about the staging and all that, it'll be interesting to see how they deal with all the action. I also hope he'll compose new material as well for the opera, since the score to the film is rather limited in scope.

I do not know what you are talking about, really, when you are talking about the LOTR symphony lacking in quality. I thought it was great. I am sure this opera is going to be incredibly interesting at the least if not absolute pure genius (guess we will just have to wait and see or hear).

I do not agree, really, that the score is limited. One of the main reasons I think that the score is so great is that it does not hold on for dear life by the "string" of one theme or idea. It has multiple ideas and themes and it incorporates them in many different creative ways. I thought it was very well developed. However, yes, Howard is taking the themes and the orchestrational ideas and re-working them into an opera. He has written new and more expanded compositions based off of the score to the Fly.

I do not know what you are talking about, really, when you are talking about the LOTR symphony lacking in quality. I thought it was great. I am sure this opera is going to be incredibly interesting at the least if not absolute pure genius (guess we will just have to wait and see or hear).

I do not agree, really, that the score is limited. One of the main reasons I think that the score is so great is that it does not hold on for dear life by the "string" of one theme or idea. It has multiple ideas and themes and it incorporates them in many different creative ways. I thought it was very well developed. However, yes, Howard is taking the themes and the orchestrational ideas and re-working them into an opera. He has written new and more expanded compositions based off of the score to the Fly.

ok, first things first. don't misquote me. I didn't say that the LOTR symphony was "lacking in quality".

however, I think he could have done considerably better considering the material he had to draw upon. the "symphony" is basically short bits from the various soundtracks stuck end to end, with rather little consideration to linking and transition. I really was hoping that, again considering the massive amount of material, that Shore would really bring it together into a cohesive whole, into a real "symphony". He didn't.

I think that the soundtrack to LOTR, as heard in the film and not the chopped-up OST recording, is one of the great masterpieces of cinema music. I really don't think the symphony does it justice.

Th

I think Howard Shore, like most film composers, had better stick to his film scores. His LOTR symphony was an utterly bland and uninspiring concert work. For some reason, whenever a film composer (even of the stature of John Williams) tries his hand at writing a "serious" concert work, it almost never turns out to be a convincing piece of music...

While I agree about the LotR symphony, we will have to agree to disagree about concert works by "film composers".

Two of my favourite conert works are by composers who have worked a lot in film: John Williams and Elliot Goldenthal. Those two pieces are the Williams Violin Concerto (the first concerto), and Goldenthal's oratorio "Fire, Water, Paper".

While I agree about the LotR symphony, we will have to agree to disagree about concert works by "film composers".

Two of my favourite conert works are by composers who have worked a lot in film: John Williams and Elliot Goldenthal. Those two pieces are the Williams Violin Concerto (the first concerto), and Goldenthal's oratorio "Fire, Water, Paper".

Good to know about those two works.

I too disagree. While I take issue with John Williams work overall, I will have to admit that his music is the most structurally sound and ready for concert of all film score composers. Several great examples of his "concert" style music come from the numerous Olympic themes that he has written - all of which I love. I know of several other concert works that Howard Shore and Michael Kamen and some others have written, but unfortunately I have never had the opportunity to hear a recording of those pieces.

I do think that a lot of film score composers fail when it comes to writting in the conert style. However, I think that it is just like doing anything else. There are times when something is not going to be great or evern work out. I think it is stereotyping to say that all film score composers suck at writting concert style music.

That's sweet! I love David Cronenberg, and everytime I hear a Shore score I grow to like him even more. Door. Core. Lore.

Etc. ;)

I think Howard Shore, like most film composers, had better stick to his film scores. His LOTR symphony was an utterly bland and uninspiring concert work. For some reason, whenever a film composer (even of the stature of John Williams) tries his hand at writing a "serious" concert work, it almost never turns out to be a convincing piece of music...

somebody hasn't heard the Korngold Violin Concerto...a standard in the rep