Details about what a rock opera is

Today we will talk about what a rock opera is. The concept is of English origin and in the original it sounds like this - rock opera. It's about the opera, created in the genre of rock music. Next, we will discuss this phenomenon from different angles.

General information

To understand the question of what a rock opera is, it should be noted that it is a musical and scenic work. The arias are performed by roles with many vocalists. In this way the plot of the opera is revealed.

Aria music is written in rock style. On the stage with the soloists can be present different musicians, most often guitarists. To understand what a rock opera is, it is important to know that it can be presented as a one-time project, or a permanent performance with a changing or unified composition of performers.

Often, soloists of well-known bands are invited for live performances or recording of such productions for the main roles. The presence of the plot and the roles distinguishes this action from the concept album.

History

Understand what a rock opera will help to consider the stages of the formation of this genre. It originated in the 1960s. The inventor of the concept of rock opera and the founder of the genre became the leader of the group The Who Pit Townsend. This collective released in 1969 the album "Tommy". On the cover of his first appeared the name of the genre of interest to us.

However, historically, as the pioneers of this phenomenon can be called the British group The Pretty Things. This team in 1968 released a concept album "SF Sorrow". However, this work, unlike the record "Tommy", did not have such a deafening commercial success.

Features in the USSR and in Russia

Alexei Rybnikov poses his works as a "modern opera". Victor Argonov also turned to the phenomenon of interest to us. His work "2032: The Legend of the Lost Future" the author defined as an opera relating to the style of techno.

A common feature of most of these works is the connection with the traditions of classics, historical and philosophical orientation, the presence of instrumental, speech and vocal sections, a large form. This is especially true for Artemiev and Rybnikov.

In Russia, special popularity gained folk-rock operas. Among them are the works of the Order "Temple". The basis of a number of works is based on the motifs of works in the genre of fantasy, in particular, "The road without a return."

Works of the Soviet period were widely known. Modern works of the genre of interest to us are targeted and commercial success often does not reach. An illustrative example can serve in this case, the opera "Crime and Punishment" by Eduard Artemiev. The author wrote this work for almost thirty years, but his release in 2007 by the general public was practically not seen, despite the world renown of Eduard Artemiev.

The performances of this genre, most often, are carried out in theaters of other directions. However, in Russia there is one institution specializing in this genre. It's about the St. Petersburg Theater "Rock Opera". Next, let's talk more about works.

The most famous productions

Rock opera "Juno and Avos". It is about one of the most famous works of this genre, created in the USSR. Author - Alexey Rybnikov. Thanks to the poems of the poet Andrei Voznesensky, this rock opera was created.

"Perhaps" is a poem that formed the basis of the libretto. However, the theatrical production required additional creation of scenes and arias. The premiere took place in 1981 at the Moscow Lenin Komsomol Theater. The play is included in the repertoire of this institution to this day.

Rock opera Superstar (the original name Jesus Christ Superstar) is the work of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, written in 1970. A year later he was put on Broadway. In the self-titled album, which was released in 1970, the title role was performed by the vocalist Deep Purple named Ian Gillan. Other well-known performers also took part in the recording: Yvonne Elliman, Paul Raven, Victor Brox, Mike D'Abo, Murray Head.

In 1973, Norman Jewison, the director of the musical, screened it. The film was filmed in Israel at the sites of historical events that unfolded at the dawn of Christianity. This work was highly rated by film critics.

At the same time, the project was attacked by various religious organizations. In 2000 the opera was filmed by Australian cinematographers. This project was called Millennium Version, a new cast and director's decision.