Opera

Shensen is a renowned Chelaxian opera diva.

Opera is a musical art form in which singers and musicians tell a dramatic story, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera can include both sung and spoken words, and is usually enhanced by the inclusion of costumes, set pieces, and even dance. The words both sung and spoken form the opera's libretto, while the music is the score. Operas are often accompanied by either a small ensemble or a large orchestra of musicians.

Jingju

In Tian Xia, operatic forms are known as jingju emerged as entertainment for the masses around 3500 AR, more than 500 years before Chelaxian opera. The number, breadth, and diversity of cultures across Tian Xia results in a many distinct forms of opera, variations in instrumentation, and inspirations for stories.

Taldan opera

Taldan opera is among the oldest forms of opera in the Inner Sea region, but compared to other forms, its enjoyment is primarily associated with or limited to its upper classes. It is distinguished by its extreme extravagance, expense, and inaccessibility. Among the fans of Taldan operas are the gnome inhabitants of Wispil in the Verduran Forest, who converted a tavern into an impromptu public opera house where visitors are customarily expected to perform.

Chelaxian opera

In the Inner Sea region, opera is most popular in Cheliax, and famous Chelaxian operas have been performed throughout the Inner Sea region. Chelaxian opera developed from Taldan traditions centuries ago, after Cheliax declared its independence from Taldor in 4081 AR, and the art became more populist and accessible as a direct response to Taldan excesses.

Several forms of Chelaxian opera remain popular across the nation and in former Chelaxian territories.

Elsewhere on Golarion

Comedic operas that skewer Cheliax are popular in Andoran.

A form of opera known as Shu Opera has been performed in Shenmen as well at the Lantern Lodge in Absalom.

Notable authors, composers, and directors

• Fallenta Sumac d’ Venenoux, formerly of the Ivy Playhouse of Absalom
• Narmiria, regarded as a mad composer of arias impossible for the human vocal range
• The Six, a collective of Kitharodian Academy students in the 33rd century AR

Notable performers

See also: Category:Opera singers

• Allishanda, a diva of Magnimar
• Bella Belvorica of Kintargo
• Elleste Gudgeon of Kintargo
• Enlina Charthagnion, Chelaxian noble and librettist
• Gallus Galonnica, killed in 4466 AR after refusing to stop a virtuoso performance in a flaming opera house, and believed to haunt Egorian since
• Minjun Song of Goka
• Lenorilia Callatarro, retired diva of Oppara
• Ociptio Larguerva, master baritone in the 45th century AR and rival responsible for Galonnica's death
• Octaverca Olivaro, a notably poor singer of Westcrown who nonetheless enthralled audiences during the Chelaxian Civil War
• Master Razu of Goka
• Ricovial Cebarinne of Kintargo
• Sasandra Livgrace of Karcau
• Shensen of Kintargo
• Thesing Umbero Ulvauno, Chelaxian opera performer of Westcrown
• Viralane Barvisai, formerly of Oppara

Notable venues

See also: Category:Opera houses

Absalom

• Fullbloom Opera House in the Petal District of Absalom

Cheliax

• Grand Opera House in Egorian
• Warius Opera House in Egorian

Goka

• Empress Yin Opera House
• Goka Opera House

Molthune

• Canorate Songspire

Ravounel

• Kintargo Opera House

The Shackles

• Blooming Rose Theater in Little Oppara
• Three-Horned Hall in Hell Harbor

Taldor

• House of the Immortal Son in Oppara

Ustalav

• The Karcau Opera campus, and particularly the Dyemeir Opera House
• Palace of Voices in Caliphas

Varisia

• Marbledome in Korvosa
• Triodea in Magnimar

Notable works

See also: Category:Operas

• Among the Living, a Taldan opera that debuted in 4708 AR in the House of the Immortal Son
• Breath of the Mountain, an opera whose fans include cloud giants
• Daughter of Orlos, a tragic Taldan opera
• Echoes of Pharasma, a so-called impossible epic opera by Narmiria
• The Elopement of the Dowager Princess, a Chelaxian opera that debuted in 4708 AR and starred Thesing Umbero Ulvauno, known for using live horses on stage
• Fall from Glory, a Chelaxian opera famous for featuring literal bloodshed in place of special effects
• The Harpy's Curse, staged in Sandpoint in 4707 AR with the Magnamarian diva Allishanda
• The Huldra Queen, in which the opera performer Oriole portrayed the tenor role Teracio
• Huntress of Heroes, a Chelaxian opera depicting the story of Aolar
• Ilvanar di Vanlieu Valliar (The Teen Queen's Tantrum), a satirical opera which premiered in Absalom in 4720 AR over the objections of Chelaxian representatives
• Lament of the Sea, in which the opera performer Oriole first gained fame portraying the heroine's rival Devorine as an alto during a run at the Three-Legged Devil
• Linnorm's Lost Legacy, a Thrune-revisionist retelling of the killing of the first linnorm
• Long-Lost Favor, in which the opera performer Oriole portrayed the bass role Vortalis
• A Love That Loss Can Bear, a melding of Chelaxian opera and Kortosi dance by The Six that debuted in 3225 AR
• Serpent's Song, a tragedy about a dragon who falls in love with a princess
• The Six Trials of Larazod, a long-banned Chelaxian opera by Lokoris Sarini about diabolism, most infamously performed in Westcrown in 4709 AR
• A Soldier of Zimar
• The Trouble with Swans, a comedic opera famously performed in Absalom in 4711 AR by a troupe mostly composed of gnomes
• Unheard Whispers, in which the opera performer Oriole portrayed the soprano role Raliana
• Victory of the Hellknights, a Chelaxian opera
• The Winter of White Roses, a Chelaxian opera of the 48th century AR that launched the career of Calseinica Nymmis

As manifestations

Vocal and instrumental operatic music can be made manifest through animation, resulting in an invisible construct of pure sound known as an animate aria.

References

Paizo published a Pathfinder Adventure Path about staging an opera in Ravounel titled Curtain Call.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.