Essential Opera
@essentialopera.bsky.social
Indie opera run by maureenbattsoprano@bsky.social & erinsopran@bsky.social
Making new opera, old opera
A bit about us: 2024 round-up: http://eepurl.com/i6Isew
Stay tuned for 15th anniversary updates including a debut album and a new, Canadian opera!
Making new opera, old opera
A bit about us: 2024 round-up: http://eepurl.com/i6Isew
Stay tuned for 15th anniversary updates including a debut album and a new, Canadian opera!
Pinned
December
Listen to content by Essential Opera.
leaf-music.lnk.to
Happy World Opera Day!
On December 5, 2025, we’re releasing the EP of “December” by Monica Pearce on Leaf Music!
PRE-SAVE LINK: leaf-music.lnk.to/lm2049
A one-act portrayal of love and belonging amid travel angst and the turbulence of holidays + family. ✨🌈🏡
#WorldOperaDay #CanadianOpera
On December 5, 2025, we’re releasing the EP of “December” by Monica Pearce on Leaf Music!
PRE-SAVE LINK: leaf-music.lnk.to/lm2049
A one-act portrayal of love and belonging amid travel angst and the turbulence of holidays + family. ✨🌈🏡
#WorldOperaDay #CanadianOpera
Happy World Opera Day!
On December 5, 2025, we’re releasing the EP of “December” by Monica Pearce on Leaf Music!
PRE-SAVE LINK: leaf-music.lnk.to/lm2049
A one-act portrayal of love and belonging amid travel angst and the turbulence of holidays + family. ✨🌈🏡
#WorldOperaDay #CanadianOpera
On December 5, 2025, we’re releasing the EP of “December” by Monica Pearce on Leaf Music!
PRE-SAVE LINK: leaf-music.lnk.to/lm2049
A one-act portrayal of love and belonging amid travel angst and the turbulence of holidays + family. ✨🌈🏡
#WorldOperaDay #CanadianOpera
December
Listen to content by Essential Opera.
leaf-music.lnk.to
October 26, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Happy World Opera Day!
On December 5, 2025, we’re releasing the EP of “December” by Monica Pearce on Leaf Music!
PRE-SAVE LINK: leaf-music.lnk.to/lm2049
A one-act portrayal of love and belonging amid travel angst and the turbulence of holidays + family. ✨🌈🏡
#WorldOperaDay #CanadianOpera
On December 5, 2025, we’re releasing the EP of “December” by Monica Pearce on Leaf Music!
PRE-SAVE LINK: leaf-music.lnk.to/lm2049
A one-act portrayal of love and belonging amid travel angst and the turbulence of holidays + family. ✨🌈🏡
#WorldOperaDay #CanadianOpera
Rehearsal pics for recording Canadian-American PEI-born composer Monica Pearce's "April" over the last several days! Gorgeous multilayered short opera.
July 3, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Rehearsal pics for recording Canadian-American PEI-born composer Monica Pearce's "April" over the last several days! Gorgeous multilayered short opera.
Foundational text
Discworld QOTD, from Maskerade
July 3, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Foundational text
Reposted by Essential Opera
What’s your sign?
June 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM
What’s your sign?
What is common knowledge in your field* but shocks outsiders?
Opera is just music theatre - you don't need to know the plot in advance or factoids about the composer to enjoy it.
*Surprising numbers of opera artists and producers are so used to this line of thought they assume it's true!
Opera is just music theatre - you don't need to know the plot in advance or factoids about the composer to enjoy it.
*Surprising numbers of opera artists and producers are so used to this line of thought they assume it's true!
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
Musicians are actually human beings and deserve to be paid for our work
Musicians are actually human beings and deserve to be paid for our work
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
A literary editor (as opposed to a magazine or newspaper editor) typically spends less than 10% of their time actually editing. The rest of the working day is mostly made up of project management.
A literary editor (as opposed to a magazine or newspaper editor) typically spends less than 10% of their time actually editing. The rest of the working day is mostly made up of project management.
June 17, 2025 at 1:38 PM
What is common knowledge in your field* but shocks outsiders?
Opera is just music theatre - you don't need to know the plot in advance or factoids about the composer to enjoy it.
*Surprising numbers of opera artists and producers are so used to this line of thought they assume it's true!
Opera is just music theatre - you don't need to know the plot in advance or factoids about the composer to enjoy it.
*Surprising numbers of opera artists and producers are so used to this line of thought they assume it's true!
Reposted by Essential Opera
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
Musicians are actually human beings and deserve to be paid for our work
Musicians are actually human beings and deserve to be paid for our work
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
A literary editor (as opposed to a magazine or newspaper editor) typically spends less than 10% of their time actually editing. The rest of the working day is mostly made up of project management.
A literary editor (as opposed to a magazine or newspaper editor) typically spends less than 10% of their time actually editing. The rest of the working day is mostly made up of project management.
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
The average author income is about seven grand a year.
The average author income is about seven grand a year.
June 17, 2025 at 1:01 PM
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
Musicians are actually human beings and deserve to be paid for our work
Musicians are actually human beings and deserve to be paid for our work
This is wild?! Post your music!
Someone told me a while back that there is a consultant telling US orchestras that they should never post video of their performers because it looks elitist, and they should post vids of the audience instead, and I think of this every time I have to wade through 17 IG stories that are just applause.
June 15, 2025 at 12:42 PM
This is wild?! Post your music!
Reposted by Essential Opera
Over the coming months we’ll be:
🎭 Learning from the experiences of artists & arts workers
💡 Exploring innovations & best practices to create more inclusive spaces
🧑🔬 Collaborating with subject matter experts
📋 Debuting new resources to support our community with tools for advocacy & accessibility
🎭 Learning from the experiences of artists & arts workers
💡 Exploring innovations & best practices to create more inclusive spaces
🧑🔬 Collaborating with subject matter experts
📋 Debuting new resources to support our community with tools for advocacy & accessibility
May 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Over the coming months we’ll be:
🎭 Learning from the experiences of artists & arts workers
💡 Exploring innovations & best practices to create more inclusive spaces
🧑🔬 Collaborating with subject matter experts
📋 Debuting new resources to support our community with tools for advocacy & accessibility
🎭 Learning from the experiences of artists & arts workers
💡 Exploring innovations & best practices to create more inclusive spaces
🧑🔬 Collaborating with subject matter experts
📋 Debuting new resources to support our community with tools for advocacy & accessibility
Reposted by Essential Opera
Stay tuned for updates - and make sure you're connected with @essentialopera.bsky.social and @operamariposa.bsky.social via newsletter and socials if you aren't already!
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
#MakingOperaAccessible #BringingTheArtsToLife #OperaInCanada
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
#MakingOperaAccessible #BringingTheArtsToLife #OperaInCanada
May 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Stay tuned for updates - and make sure you're connected with @essentialopera.bsky.social and @operamariposa.bsky.social via newsletter and socials if you aren't already!
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
#MakingOperaAccessible #BringingTheArtsToLife #OperaInCanada
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
#MakingOperaAccessible #BringingTheArtsToLife #OperaInCanada
Big news👇👇👇
Big news 📢 @essentialopera.bsky.social, @operamariposa.bsky.social, and a group of Canadian artists and researchers have formed a coalition for an exciting new project.
We’re developing a resource on immuno-inclusivity in opera spaces (and beyond!), supported by the Canada Council for the Arts!
We’re developing a resource on immuno-inclusivity in opera spaces (and beyond!), supported by the Canada Council for the Arts!
May 23, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Big news👇👇👇
Reposted by Essential Opera
As he barreled out of the bathroom, he was chanting “No, no, no, no, no!” and when his pants fell down (because he never really got them up all the way as he jumped up from the toilet) he bellyflopped onto the linoleum floor and his hands made a loud squeak sound on the linoleum
May 11, 2025 at 2:27 AM
As he barreled out of the bathroom, he was chanting “No, no, no, no, no!” and when his pants fell down (because he never really got them up all the way as he jumped up from the toilet) he bellyflopped onto the linoleum floor and his hands made a loud squeak sound on the linoleum
Reposted by Essential Opera
This brief description really doesn't do it justice. There is music very similar to his entrance music at the end of the overture and while he was taking a shit he heard it over the PA and we could hear him banging around in the stall trying to get out of the bathroom to make it to the stage
May 10, 2025 at 10:25 PM
This brief description really doesn't do it justice. There is music very similar to his entrance music at the end of the overture and while he was taking a shit he heard it over the PA and we could hear him banging around in the stall trying to get out of the bathroom to make it to the stage
Truly the most essential of art forms (read whole story or risk chuckling when you could have cackled)
My friend Carl lunging out of the backstage bathroom because he thought he was about to miss his entrance in the opera Carmen only to immediately have his pants fall down which sent him sprawling headfirst into the middle of the green room and learning he still had 5 minutes before his stage call
May 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Truly the most essential of art forms (read whole story or risk chuckling when you could have cackled)
Even opera is allowed a gas leak season I guess
would watch, even the slump 3rd season.
May 7, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Even opera is allowed a gas leak season I guess
Reposted by Essential Opera
My journal will have fresh decorations soon.
Stickers? STICKERS!
Making these was a very silly process and helped alleviate various types of horrors for a while. We'll have them with us at the East Coast Music Awards in St. John's NL this week!
Making these was a very silly process and helped alleviate various types of horrors for a while. We'll have them with us at the East Coast Music Awards in St. John's NL this week!
May 7, 2025 at 2:05 AM
My journal will have fresh decorations soon.
Reposted by Essential Opera
We're heading to the Rock this week for the East Coast Music Awards & conference. Hit us up for stickers.
Showcase 3pm Saturday May 10 at Memorial!
Showcase 3pm Saturday May 10 at Memorial!
May 7, 2025 at 1:49 AM
We're heading to the Rock this week for the East Coast Music Awards & conference. Hit us up for stickers.
Showcase 3pm Saturday May 10 at Memorial!
Showcase 3pm Saturday May 10 at Memorial!
Stickers? STICKERS!
Making these was a very silly process and helped alleviate various types of horrors for a while. We'll have them with us at the East Coast Music Awards in St. John's NL this week!
Making these was a very silly process and helped alleviate various types of horrors for a while. We'll have them with us at the East Coast Music Awards in St. John's NL this week!
May 7, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Stickers? STICKERS!
Making these was a very silly process and helped alleviate various types of horrors for a while. We'll have them with us at the East Coast Music Awards in St. John's NL this week!
Making these was a very silly process and helped alleviate various types of horrors for a while. We'll have them with us at the East Coast Music Awards in St. John's NL this week!
We're heading to the Rock this week for the East Coast Music Awards & conference. Hit us up for stickers.
Showcase 3pm Saturday May 10 at Memorial!
Showcase 3pm Saturday May 10 at Memorial!
May 7, 2025 at 1:49 AM
We're heading to the Rock this week for the East Coast Music Awards & conference. Hit us up for stickers.
Showcase 3pm Saturday May 10 at Memorial!
Showcase 3pm Saturday May 10 at Memorial!
Lots of new peeps coming over to BlueSky. If you’re interested in what we’re up to or who we are, check out our 2024 round-up here: eepurl.com/i6Isew
2024 Round-up and Essential Opera re-releases "December" by Monica Pearce
Stream until December 31!
eepurl.com
January 14, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Lots of new peeps coming over to BlueSky. If you’re interested in what we’re up to or who we are, check out our 2024 round-up here: eepurl.com/i6Isew
Coming soon
If I ever become a popular male blues rocker, I am going to start my performance by asking the audience if they all are ‘ready to rock,’ and later, I will exhort them to ‘come on!’
If they fail to come on to an acceptable degree, I shall raise my fist and urge them by saying, ‘let’s rock!’
If they fail to come on to an acceptable degree, I shall raise my fist and urge them by saying, ‘let’s rock!’
December 13, 2024 at 4:35 PM
Coming soon
Reposted by Essential Opera
I think most of this should also apply to opera. YOU'RE WELCOME.
Making a note of this for the next time anyone hires me for a solo opera concert
December 13, 2024 at 4:30 PM
I think most of this should also apply to opera. YOU'RE WELCOME.
Save-the-date!
In Her Hands: The Tragedy of Lady Macbeth
A brand-new opera
By Fiona M. Ryan
Workshop production
Sunday, September 22, 7:30pm
Motyer-Fancy Theatre in Sackville, NB
Cast and creative team announcements and ticket link coming soon!!
August 24, 2024 at 12:42 PM
Save-the-date!
In Her Hands: The Tragedy of Lady Macbeth
A brand-new opera
By Fiona M. Ryan
Workshop production
Sunday, September 22, 7:30pm
Motyer-Fancy Theatre in Sackville, NB
Cast and creative team announcements and ticket link coming soon!!
#AUDITIONCALL
Essential Opera is casting for a workshop performance of a new opera by Fiona Ryan, “In Her Hands: The Tragedy of Lady Macbeth”.
Submit by/before: July 15
Essentialopera.com for details: roles, submission suggestions, company & accessibility info
#NewMusic #CanadianOpera #Auditions
Essential Opera is casting for a workshop performance of a new opera by Fiona Ryan, “In Her Hands: The Tragedy of Lady Macbeth”.
Submit by/before: July 15
Essentialopera.com for details: roles, submission suggestions, company & accessibility info
#NewMusic #CanadianOpera #Auditions
June 27, 2024 at 2:00 AM
#AUDITIONCALL
Essential Opera is casting for a workshop performance of a new opera by Fiona Ryan, “In Her Hands: The Tragedy of Lady Macbeth”.
Submit by/before: July 15
Essentialopera.com for details: roles, submission suggestions, company & accessibility info
#NewMusic #CanadianOpera #Auditions
Essential Opera is casting for a workshop performance of a new opera by Fiona Ryan, “In Her Hands: The Tragedy of Lady Macbeth”.
Submit by/before: July 15
Essentialopera.com for details: roles, submission suggestions, company & accessibility info
#NewMusic #CanadianOpera #Auditions
Honourable mention for the mighty oboe
April 18, 2024 at 10:48 PM
Honourable mention for the mighty oboe
Reposted by Essential Opera
Opera is best when it is unserious
April 18, 2024 at 7:25 PM
Opera is best when it is unserious