Opera without sopranos

[Hector]

Try Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti.

Enough coloratura there to make your eyes water.

[BachQ]

Only a sort orchestral suite of it exists.

You see ...... No sopranos ........

[Wendell_E]

Luke, I hear Boulez is going to conduct this sometime soon. What is your reason for putting it at the top of the Janacek heap?

He's already conducted it.  I heard a broadcast from the Holland Festival a couple of weeks ago.  Interestingly, the biggest female role, the trouser role of the prisoner Aljeja (sp?), was sung by a male, so the only female was the very small role of the prostitute. 

I've never heard Massenet's Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame, but the only female roles it has are two angels that sing during the miracle near the end.  Occasionally, sopranos have commandeered the leading tenor role of Jean.

Peter Maxwell Davies' The Lighthouse only has three (all-male) characters.  Not really romantic, though.

[71 dB]

You see ...... No sopranos ........

True, but it's not an opera but orchestral suite of opera music. Harry is after real operas without sopranos but that's like searching symphonies without violins.

[lukeottevanger]

Peter Maxwell Davies' The Lighthouse only has three (all-male) characters.  Not really romantic, though.

Another incredible piece....

[lukeottevanger]

True, but it's not an opera but orchestral suite of opera music.

But it exists in a performing version...

Harry is after real operas without sopranos but that's like searching symphonies without violins.

Symphony of Psalms....

[Harry]

True, but it's not an opera but orchestral suite of opera music. Harry is after real operas without sopranos but that's like searching symphonies without violins.

Well really!
I have already garnered a few from this thread.

[Tsaraslondon]

Try Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti.

Enough coloratura there to make your eyes water.

But mostly for sopranos, which is probably why I love them so much.

[springrite]

Palestrina by Pfizner, with male characters (mostly if not all from the church who are allegedly allergic to sex of any kind). Certainly not a gay opera (is there an alter boy or choir boy in the cast? I forgot).

[Wendell_E]

Palestrina by Pfitzner, with male characters (mostly if not all from the church who are allegedly allergic to sex of any kind). Certainly not a gay opera (is there an alter boy or choir boy in the cast? I forgot).

As it happens, I just listened to Kubelik's DG recording this morning.  The opera opens with a fairly lengthy scene (over 20-minute) scene between Palestrina's son Ighino (sung by a soprano) and Palestrina's pupil Silla (mezzo).  Palestrina's dead wife, Lukrezia, also makes a brief appearance (with three angels, also sung by women) at the end of Act I, and the "boys" come back later in the opera as well.

[springrite]

As it happens, I just listened to Kubelik's DG recording this morning.  The opera opens with a fairly lengthy scene (over 20-minute) scene between Palestrina's son Ighino (sung by a soprano) and Palestrina's pupil Silla (mezzo).  Palestrina's dead wife, Lukrezia, also makes a brief appearance (with three angels, also sung by women) at the end of Act I, and the "boys" come back later in the opera as well.

Yeah, but skip act one and you still have two hours. My favorite is the second and third act. In fact, I only listened to the first act once. Somehow the soprano-less parts of the opera seems more reviting to me.

[knight66]

I am becoming frankly confused. What is different about Operetta in which a soprano...possibly coloratura, is welcome...yet is an anathema in a romantic opera? I am being tempted into some very uncharitable thoughts here. But Harry is too nice for me to spill them onto the page. However..............

Mike

[springrite]

I am becoming frankly confused. What is different about Operetta in which a soprano...possibly coloratura, is welcome...yet is an anathema in a romantic opera? I am being tempted into some very uncharitable thoughts here. But Harry is too nice for me to spill them onto the page. However..............

Mike

Harry does not want sopranos to emote too much vocally, I suppose.

[knight66]

Two suggestions....

1) Arnold SCHOENBERG Moses und Aron: Female input is minimal, but romantic???

2) Strauss Elektra: Elektra is played by a mute, so she does not get to sing at all. Her mother is usually played by a lady-bass. The other main characters are men apart from Elektra's sister...now a days, sung by a counter tenor. So, it clearly fits the bill and is ultra romantic to boot.

Mike

[knight66]

Harry does not want sopranos to emote too much vocally, I suppose.

I remain lost as to how anyone could enjoy the beautiful and very elaborate soprano roles in Fledermaus, but be put off by Traviata?!

Mike

[springrite]

I remain lost as to how anyone could enjoy the beautiful and very elaborate soprano roles in Fledermaus, but be put off by Traviata?!

Mike

My love for the soprano-less acts of Palestrina notwithstanding, I agree with a friend of my who stated: "An opera is not an opera without sopranos." (I believe it was Dargomizhsky who said: "If there were no sopranos in this world, I would never have considered to be a composer!") I have never listened to Billy Budd for just that reason.

[Tsaraslondon]

I have never listened to Billy Budd for just that reason.

I put off listening to Billy Budd for a very long time, for the very same reasons, so I was surprised to find out how much I liked it. In fact, it's one of my top 3 Britten operas, the others being Peter Grimes and The Turn of the Screw.

[Sergeant Rock]

No, The Beggar's Opera has soprano roles, IIRC....

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

2) Strauss Elektra: Elektra is played by a mute, so she does not get to sing at all. Her mother is usually played by a lady-bass. The other main characters are men apart from Elektra's sister...now a days, sung by a counter tenor. So, it clearly fits the bill and is ultra romantic to boot.

Mike

Yes, Harry, Elektra is definitely an opera for you. Also you can safely listen to the first two acts of Wagner's Siegfried. There are only male voices plus a bird. Nothing to fear.

Sarge

[Anne]

My love for the soprano-less acts of Palestrina notwithstanding, I agree with a friend of my who stated: "An opera is not an opera without sopranos." (I believe it was Dargomizhsky who said: "If there were no sopranos in this world, I would never have considered to be a composer!") I have never listened to Billy Budd for just that reason.

Hi Springrite,

Don't be concerned by the lack of sopranos in Billy Budd.  It is a wonderful opera.  Also in the middle of the opera, Billy Budd is given the most gorgeous aria to sing.  I don't think any soprano could have asked for a better one.