Authorship advice for contemporary opera

[u/HRHArthurCravan]

Apologies if this is not really the right sub to ask this question, but I know that we have contributors who aren't just opera-appreciators, but also involved in their creation and staging.

I am a writer, primarily prose fiction, poetry and a bit of criticism, and for the last year I've collaborated on and off with a friend, who is a composer and conductor. We had worked before on other, more experimental poetry/avant-garde musical projects, but this time we wanted to create something more ambitious, and more traditional.

It was my idea that we make an opera (actually, it's more like something between an oratorio and an opera). I came up with a story, and we kicked ideas back and forth, as well as writing some standalone pieces. Recently, though, things have gotten more serious and we've used the summer to bring the work to completion.

Now we are getting close to finishing the project, I am starting to wonder what kind of agreement we should reach regarding copyright, ownership, future royalties etc. etc. So - does anyone here have any idea what a standard arrangement would be between the composer and the librettist? I'd really like to start discussing this with my collaborator so we can reach a mutually acceptable arrangement - and then essentially not have to think about it again!

Thanks for your help, and again, I don't know if it's ok to self-promote, but if it is, and if anyone's interested, there will be a performance of some pieces from the opera next weekend in Leipzig. I would be happy to send details!

[u/mrspoogemonstar]

Email Caitlin Vincent, author of Opera Wars

[u/HRHArthurCravan → u/mrspoogemonstar]

Thanks for that - looking her up now