English National Opera has announced a project called Mini Operas, an online search for composers, writers and film makers to create new opera works with judging panelists including novelist Will Self, film director Terry Gilliam and composer Nico Muhly.
The competition will evolve in three stages. In the first, writers will have to create a script based on three example storylines from Will Self, A L Kennedy and Neil Gaiman. Ten finalists will be chosen, and composers will be invited to create scores to accompany their scripts, and then, after ten finalist composers have been chosen, film makers will try to construct complete pieces.
The project will go live from 26 March, in partnership with a number of technology and media organisations including Vimeo, Soundcloud, BFI, British Council, Classic FM, Sound and Music and The London Film School. Gilliam will pick one winner from each category, and they will receive mentoring from composers Jeremy Sams, Nico Muhly and Leo Warner.
Gilliam, who directed The Damnation of Faust for ENO last year, said, "Opera is really, really hard to do well. I know. I want people to find it out for themselves. I’ll be judging, and I want to find future stars who can work with this ridiculous, stupefying, insane, wonderful artform. Good on ENO for trying to find anyone mad enough to have a go."
The official web site for the project is at www.minioperas.org where you can now sign up to receive information about it in advance of its official launch.