History:Style/Specific types of releases/Opera

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Style Guideline > ClassicalStyleGuide > Opera Tracks

This StyleGuideline applies to opera, under the ClassicalStyleGuide, only. For popular music see the TrackTitle. For non-operatic ClassicalMusic see the ClassicalTrackTitleStyle. For musicals, see the MusicalSoundtrackStyle.

This StyleGuideline describes how Opera Tracks should be formatted:

opera_name[, catalogue ###]: Act XX[, Scene XX]. [performance_type] "name_of_the_song" [(character1, character2, ...)]

All the parts in brackets are optional, but if they are mentioned on the printed cover, they should be included.

• The catalogue number is traditionally not included (but the ClassicalTrackTitleStyle will allow for it).
• Act number and Scene number are upper-case roman numerals (e.g. I, II, III, IV, ...).
• The performance_type can be: Aria, Duettino, Recitativo, Chorus...
• The name_of_the_song is usually the first words of the part; enclosed in double quotes. The exact words used can differ from one release to another. Follow what the printed release says.
• The character names are in parentheses and separated by commas. Note these are character names, not performer (artist) names.

Simple Examples

Full details including catalogue number, performance type, and character names:

• Don Giovanni, Op. 500: Act I, Scene III. Duettino "Là ci darem la mano" (Don Giovanni, Zerlina)

Somewhere in the middle:

• Don Giovanni, Op. 500: Act I, Scene III. "Là ci darem la mano" (Don Giovanni, Zerlina)
• Don Giovanni, Op. 500: Act I, Scene III. Duettino "Là ci darem la mano"
• Don Giovanni, Op. 500: Act I, Scene III. "Là ci darem la mano"
• Don Giovanni: Act I, Scene III. Duettino "Là ci darem la mano" (Don Giovanni, Zerlina)
• Don Giovanni: Act I, Scene III. "Là ci darem la mano" (Don Giovanni, Zerlina)
• Don Giovanni: Act I, Scene III. Duettino "Là ci darem la mano"

Bare essentials, without catalogue number, performance type, or character names:

• Don Giovanni: Act I, Scene III. "Là ci darem la mano"

Special case: the Prelude or instrumental parts:

• Don Giovanni: Act III. Prelude
• Don Giovanni: Act III, Scene II. An Instrumental Part

Complex Examples

Another part in the same scene:

• Don Giovanni: Act IV, Scene II. "Là ci darem la mano" - "Another song in the same scene"
• Don Giovanni: Act IV, Scene II. An Instrumental Part - "Là ci darem la mano"

Another part in a different scene:

• Don Giovanni: Act III, Scene I. "Là ci darem la mano" / Act III, Scene II. "Another song in a different scene"
• Don Giovanni: Act III, Scene I. "Là ci darem la mano" / Act III, Scene II. An Instrumental Part in a Different Scene

Another part in a different act:

• Don Giovanni: Act II, Scene III. "Là ci darem la mano" / Act III, Scene I. "Another song in a different act"
• Don Giovanni: Act II, Scene III. "Là ci darem la mano" / Act III. Prelude

Examples in the Database

• Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus feat. conductor: James Levine) (disc 1)
• Here is an example where the Acts were not mentioned on the cover: Opera Arias by Anne Sofie von Otter

History

The story of how we reached an agreement on this style is here: HistoryOfOperaTrackStyle