Scarterran opera

At it's core, Scarterran operas are the same as Earth operas.

"an extended dramatic composition, in which all parts are sung to instrumental accompaniment, that usually includes arias, choruses, and recitatives, and that sometimes includes ballet."
-dictionary.com

Or we can use the more colloquial explanation of Earth opera.

“Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings.” ― Robert Benchley

Much as the majority of Earth operas are in Italian, most Scarterran operas are in Elven. More than in nine in ten.
Since operas require a large number of performers, a lot of crew, and a lot of rehearsals to reach their full potential they are expensive and time consuming produce making operas very much an upper class thing in Scarterra.
Given that the minimum set up for operas is so expensive, most opera performances go the extra mile and spare no expense on the details often incorporates the fanciest costumes, props, and sometimes magical special effects that they can find.
Smaller modest operas do exist in Scarterra. Smaller operas are more likely to break traditional opera norms than the big operas with large royal patrons, and many art enthusiasts claim to prefer the smaller cheaper venues bcauses they take more artistic risks.

History

by Eron 12 with Hero Forge

-Vesstan Heithana, scholar of Silfûrhëim

"I have heard a dragon sing once while I was on my Rumspringa. It was alien yet beautiful, and is one of the most moving experiences of my long life.
I have never heard multiple dragons singing in harmony. I have never met anyone who has heard such a thing. Pardon the pun, inter-dragon relations these days are rarely harmonious. Modern dragons rarely gather in numbers, and when they do it's usually not to sing. Mores the pity.

I'm sure the ancient dragons had musical traditions, but I doubt very much they had true operas. Opera requires substantial instrumental accompaniment. According to modern dragons, their ancestors rarely used musical instruments. When they ancient performed in groups, they preferred acapella which I'm sure would have been amazing to witness given the wide vocal range of dragons compared to elves and humans.
I understand in draconic circle plays, whichever character or pair was the center of attention would fly in the center while the supporting cast flew around them providing acapella accompaniment. The dragon performers would take turns taking center stage and merge back into the circle to let new dragons out of it in a carefully choreographed motion. This could be called a proto-opera I suppose. I'd give a lot to see one of these, but such a thing is no longer possible I'm afraid.
Opera as we know it, clearly emerged in the Second Age."

by Eron12 with Hero Forge

Akeem of Magicland, professor Emeritus of History

"Swynfaredians often claim that dragons invented opera in the First Age. If they did, they left behind no evidence of this. The so-called evidence the Swynfaredians have produced is quite suspect. Pretty much everyone outside of Swynfaredia believes opera was first developed by Second Age elves.

A lot of the surviving literature from the Second Age was in fact play scripts, or librettos if you prefer. We have twelve ancient elven operas with their entire musical scores, and these operas have been transcribed and copied many times. It is considered a lifetime achievement for a singer to "Master the Twelve." Most composers who create new operas reference the twelve classic classic operas.
We have incomplete libretto of hundreds more operas. Some of them are doubtless forgeries but many are authentic and this fragments are highly prized by composers and art patrons. A lot of contemporary composers have filled in the blanks on these and some of these operas are very popular.
It is obvious that opera was an incredibly important form of musical entertainment in the Second Age. There are thousands of surviving written references to people watching operas and the elven kings and queens of old gained or lost a lot of status by patronizing the right or wrong operas."

Execution

It costs a lot to produce an opera, but a lot of the costs are front loaded so once an opera troupe nails down a particular show, they will usually run it several times.
It varies a lot but on average, most secular operas get about 50% of their funds from one high ranking noble patron (or a married couple), about 10% of their funds from a sympathetic temple, about 20% of their funds from low ranking nobles who are opera fans, and 20% of their funds from charging the general public a copper piece or two to watch a show.

Hoard of ancient gold coins (picture released to public domain) by Wikimedia commons public domain

Generally the first show is for the main donor, their family and the various honored guests that the main patron wants to show off for. If it's a very fancy opera sponsored by a royal family they might have exclusive royal showings for weeks, sometimes to the point where some of the royals became bored by their own opera but have to keep up appearances otherwise.
Then there are public shows that charge a modest admission fee, but each public show is usually dedicated to one of their lesser donors who the opera performers will thank repeatedly before and after the show.

Participants

Operas cost a lot of money, and the dragon's share of the money goes to to the big star or stars. There is a small number of living legends among singers, maestros and composers and wealthy opera patrons pay through the nose to get them in their shows. The rest of the opera performers and crew trend to get a living wage and little more than that.
Among the rank and file singers, dancers, musicians, and crew, few of us our truly full-time opera singers. Most low level performers take any gig they can get and only occasionally dabble in opera. We wouldn't participate in opera if we didn't truly love the craft because there are easier ways to make a living.
A lot of times, we get less money working on an opera than we would get singing in a tavern for tips, but a lot of ambitious performers want to get involved in operas so they can rub elbows with the mighty lords and dragons of opera and hopefully eventually become a famous diva one day making coins hand over fist to appreciative royal crowds.
Once the big stars climb the ladder, they will try to kick the ladder behind them. It doesn't hurt to lick boots of the big names in opera, but if you are an unknown performer with great talent, your best bet is to sign up to a modest opera troupe that makes small productions and hope the troupe stumbles onto to a runaway hit. That is how most of the greatest divas were originally "found" by wealthy patrons.
Though I guess if you are stuck in East Colassia like me, the only operas here are small operas because no sane performer would want to participate in a Kahdisterian opera as most of the performers are slaves.
-Saad, traveling minstrel

The Magic of Theater

Burning playing cards free download on Unsplash by Julius Drost

"A lot of the most upscale operas involve magical effects, usually Illusion arcane magic but other schools of arcane magic have sneaked their way in and many Nonagon sponsored operas sometimes incorporate divine magic.
Bardic mages are often involved to provide musical accompaniment and magical special effects in one package. Surprisingly, these performers rarely manage to become famous opera divas. Yes, they command a lot more pay than the rank and file crew, but they are usually on the sidelines with the orchestra providing support rather than taking center stage.
This allows them to keep the magical support going no matter who is on stage singing, but also getting bardic mages to keep to a tight rehearsal and performance schedule is like herding cats. If a bardic mage throws a tantrum and walks out on a troupe, the show will not has any many magical effect but those are still technically optional so the whole show isn't sunk when this happens. They will usually skip one or two showings than sheepishly come back.
In my opinion, if you want to throw magic into a opera, you are better off picking a non-bardic mage of some kind, they are more emotionally stable and less likely to run out on you. Sure, most wizards cannot sing or dance, but not every member of an opera crew has to do everything, that is why operas have a large cast.
-Saad, traveling minstrel"

Primary Related Location

Scarterra

Important Locations

• Elven Empire, territory