View source for Opera IX

{{Short description|Italian symphonic black metal band}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=March 2008}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=October 2020}}}}
{{Infobox musical artist | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name                = Opera IX
| image               = Opera IX Busto Arsizio 2015 - 1.jpg
| caption             = Ossian on stage in 2015
| image_size          = 
| background          = group_or_band
| alias               = 
| origin              = [[Biella]], Italy
| genre               = [[Symphonic black metal]], [[gothic metal]] (early)
| years_active        = 1988–present
| label               = [[Avantgarde Music]], [[Displeased Records]]
| associated_acts     = 
| website             = {{url|operaix.it}}
| current_members     = Dipsas<br />[[Ossian D'Ambrosio|Ossian]]<br />Charon<br/ >[[Massimo Altomare (m:A Fog)|m:A Fog]]<br/>Alessandro
| past_members        =  [[Cadaveria]]<br/>Flegias<br/>Lunaris<br/>Taranis<br/>Madras<br/>Vlad<br/>Silent Bard<br/>Triskent<br/>Dalamar<br/>M.<br/>Abigail<br/>Scùrs
}}

'''Opera IX''' is an Italian [[symphonic black metal]] band, founded in the city of [[Biella Province|Biella]] by the guitarist [[Ossian D'Ambrosio|Ossian]] in 1988.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

== History ==
=== Early years: 1990–1995 ===
In 1990 the band made the first [[Demo (music)|demo]] tape "Gothik". There were many line-up changes, eventually settling with [[Cadaveria]]'s vocals, [[Ossian D'Ambrosio|Ossian]] at guitar, Vlad at bass and Flegias at drums. The band's early occult metal sound was switched to a mix of [[Gothic metal|gothic]], [[Death metal|death]], and [[black metal]]. The second demo, which contained 4 songs, led to a contract for a 7-inch EP, which came out in 1993. The first 500 copies were sold out in 2 months. In the meantime, the band filmed "The Triumph Of The Death" containing 2 [[music video|videos]]: Born In The Grave <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8em9NESSEDE| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410213410/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8em9NESSEDE| archive-date=2016-04-10|title=Born In The Grave video|work=YouTube|access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref> and The Red Death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iun60hMZlwU| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603112259/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iun60hMZlwU| archive-date=2016-06-03|title=The Red Death video|work=YouTube|access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref>

At the end of 1993, Silent Bard, a musician with [[classical music|classical]] background, joined the line-up on keyboard. The band released its first full album, ''[[The Call of the Wood]]'', in 1995 under Miscarriage Records. The album contains 5 long songs and has a play time of about 60 minutes. After the [[compact disc|CD]] was released, Opera IX replaced the keyboard player with a new member: Triskent.

Opera participated in ''A Call To Irons'' an [[Iron Maiden]] tribute album, also for Miscarriage Records. The cover chosen by the band was "The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner". Other bands on the album included [[Vital Remains]] and [[Absu (band)|Absu]].

=== ''Sacro Culto'' and ''The Black Opera'': 1996–2001 ===
In April 1998 the band's second full-length album ''[[Sacro Culto]]'' was released by the Belgian label Shiver Records. There are six songs in total, for a duration of 70 minutes. The new keyboardist on the album is Lunaris. The CD was presented in [[digipak]] format and a video was made for "Fronds of the Ancient Walnut".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpvTy7o5AN0| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211024034142/SpvTy7o5AN0| archive-date=2021-10-23|title=Fronds of the Ancient Walnut video|work=YouTube|access-date=23 November 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In the [[Biella]]year 2000, Opera IX signed to [[Avantgarde Music]]. In January of the following year they recorded their third album, ''[[The Black Opera - Simphoniae Misteriorum in Laude Tenebrarum]]'', at the Underground studios in [[Sweden]]. ''Black Opera'' sold approximately 18,000 copies. In September 2001 Avantgarde released a remastered ''The Call of the Wood'' with new cover artwork and two bonus tracks: "Rimes About Dying Stones" and "Born In The Grave".

=== ''Maleventum'' and ''Anphisbena'': 2002–2008 ===
Flegias and Cadaveria left the band to form a new musical project, [[Cadaveria]]. Opera IX reformed with Taranis on drums and Madras on vocals. Their fourth album, entitled ''[[Maleventum]]'', is a concept album about witchcraft and paganism. It was recorded in January 2002 at The Damage inc studios in [[Ventimiglia, Italy|Ventimiglia]].

Madras and Taranis left the band at the same time it was finishing the new album ''[[Anphisbena]]''. As of December 2003, the current Opera IX line up features M The Bard on vocals and Dalamar on drums.

=== New albums 2009–present ===
The band has recorded a new album which was planned to be released sometime in the beginning of 2011 by [[Displeased Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://darkdoomgrinddeath.blogspot.com/2009/11/opera-ix-interview.html|title=Opera IX interview (2009) |publisher=Darkdoomgrinddeath.blogspot.com|access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://myspace.com/discover/featured|title=Featured Content on Myspace|website=Myspace.com|access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref> The drum recording has been completed by Dalamar,<ref name="auto"/> the bass recording has been completed by Vlad,<ref>{{Cite web |title=STUDIO REPORT (bass guitar session and more) |url=http://www.myspace.com/officialoperaix/blog/540534950 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908004327/http://www.myspace.com/officialoperaix/blog/540534950 |archive-date=8 September 2012 |publisher=Blog von Opera IX |date=10 November 2010 |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref> the recording of the first guitar has been completed by Ossian.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Opera IX - Strix studio report part 2 |url=http://www.operaix.it/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49:opera-ix-strix-studio-report-part-2&catid=1:last-news&Itemid=50 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718105407/http://www.operaix.it/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49:opera-ix-strix-studio-report-part-2&catid=1:last-news&Itemid=50 |archive-date=18 July 2011 |publisher=Blog von Opera IX |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref> The band also posted two video previews of the new album on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2hvo2eCCR4&feature=player_embedded| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211024034203/r2hvo2eCCR4| archive-date=2021-10-02|title=OPERA IX "STRIX" - studio report PT1 - Dalamar drum recording|work=YouTube|access-date=23 November 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUbgh0ZCHY4| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211024034147/puiHt2wF3iE| archive-date=2016-07-24|title=OPERA IX "STRIX" - studio report PT2 - Vlad bass guitar recording|work=YouTube|access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref> On 15 April 2011 the band terminated the contract with Displeased Records because the label "would no longer guarantee the conditions in the signed contract".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/OfficialoperaIX/|title=Official Opera IX|website=Facebook.com|access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, the band signed a contract with Agonia Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/notes/agonia-records/agonia-records-the-konsortium-svartsyn-opera-ix-new-releases/228658643812319|title=AGONIA RECORDS : The Konsortium / Svartsyn / Opera IX / New Releases.|website=Facebook.com|access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref> A music video for the song Mandragora has been released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puiHt2wF3iE| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/puiHt2wF3iE?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puiHt2wF3iE| archive-date=2021-10-23|title=OperaIX - Mandragora [UNCENSORED] OFFICIAL VIDEOCLIP [HD- 720p]|work=YouTube|access-date=23 November 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The album, ''[[Strix: Maledictae in aeternum]]'', was finally released in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=15260|title=Opera IX - New Video Online, New Album Details Revealed|website=Metalstorm.net|access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref> followed by ''[[Back to Sepulcro]]'' in 2015.

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
*''[[The Call of the Wood]]'' (1995)
*''[[Sacro Culto]]'' (1998)
*''[[The Black Opera: Symphoniae Mysteriorum in Laudem Tenebrarum]]'' (2000)
*''[[Maleventum]]'' (2002)
*''[[Anphisbena]]'' (2004)
*''[[Strix: Maledictae in aeternum]]'' (2012)
*''[[Back to Sepulcro]]'' (2015)
*''[[The Gospel (album)|The Gospel]]'' (2018)

===Extended plays===
*''[[The Triumph of the Death]]'' (1993)

===Compilation albums===
*''90-92-93 The Early Chapters'' (2007)

===Live albums===
*''The Triumph of the Death'' (1994)
*''Live at Babylonia'' (1998)
*''Mythology XX Years of Witchcraft'' (2008)
*''Sabbatical Live'' (2013)

===Demo releases===
*''Gothik'' (1990)
*''Demo '92'' (1992)

== Members ==
=== Current ===
* [[Ossian D'Ambrosio|Ossian]] – guitars (1988–present)
* Dipsas Dianaria - vocals (2018–present)
* Charon - bass (2018–present) 
* [[Massimo Altomare (m:A Fog)|m:A Fog]] - drums (2014–present)
* Alessandro Muscio - keyboards  (2014–present)

=== Former ===
* Daniel Vintras – vocals (1990)
* [[Cadaveria]] – vocals (1992-2001)
* Madras - vocals (2001-2002)
* M the Bard - vocals, guitars (2003-2014; died 2017)
* Abigail Dianaria - vocals (2014-2018<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/operaixvocalist/posts/1591072847607282|title=Abigail Dianaria - Posts|website=Facebook.com|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref>)
* Vlad - bass (1990-2014)
* Scùrs - bass (2014-2018)
* Flegias - drums (1992-2001)
* Taranis - drums (2001-2002)
* Dalamar - drums (2003-2014)
* Silent Bard - keyboards (1993-1995)
* Triskent - keyboards (1995-1997)
* Lunaris - keyboards (1997-2006)

===Timeline===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize  = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18
PlotArea   = left:170 bottom:80 top:0 right:50
Alignbars  = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1988 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1988
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1988
Legend     = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

Colors =
 id:vocals  value:red       legend:Vocals
 id:guitar    value:green     legend:Guitar
 id:bass    value:blue      legend:Bass
 id:keys    value:purple   legend:Keyboards
 id:drums   value:orange    legend:Drums
 id:bars    value:gray(0.95)
 id:studio   value:black     legend:Studio_Album
 id:other   value:gray(0.5) legend:Demos/EPs

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =
 at:06/01/1990 color:other layer:back
 at:06/01/1992 color:other layer:back
 at:06/01/1993 color:other layer:back
 at:06/01/1995 color:black layer:back
 at:04/18/1998 color:black layer:back
 at:05/05/2000 color:black layer:back
 at:03/25/2002 color:black layer:back
 at:11/27/2004 color:black layer:back
 at:01/24/2012 color:black layer:back
 at:11/15/2015 color:black layer:back

BarData =
 bar:Daniel      text:"Daniel Vintras"
 bar:Cadaveria text:"Cadaveria"
 bar:Madras     text:"Madras"
 bar:M             text:"M the Bard"
 bar:Abigail     text:"Abigail Dianaria"
 bar:Dipsas    text:"Dipsas Dianaria"
 bar:Ossian     text:"Ossian"
 bar:Vlad         text:"Vlad"
 bar:Scurs       text:"Scùrs"
 bar:Charon     text:"Charon"
 bar:Silent       text:"Silent Bard"
 bar:Triskent   text:"Triskent"
 bar:Lunaris    text:"Lunaris"
 bar:Aless       text:"Alessandro Muscio"
 bar:Flegias   text:"Flegias"
 bar:Taranis    text:"Taranis"
 bar:Dalamar  text:"Dalamar"
 bar:MA          text:"m:A Fog"

PlotData =
 width:11
 bar:Daniel      from:04/01/1990 till:11/01/1990  color:vocals
 bar:Cadaveria from:01/01/1992 till:09/01/2001  color:vocals
 bar:Madras     from:09/01/2001 till:11/01/2002  color:vocals
 bar:M              from:02/01/2003 till:04/01/2014  color:vocals
 bar:Abigail      from:04/01/2014 till:02/09/2018  color:vocals
 bar:Dipsas      from:02/09/2018 till:end  color:vocals
 bar:Ossian      from:01/01/1988 till:end  color:guitar
 bar:Vlad          from:01/01/1990 till:04/01/2014  color:bass
 bar:Scurs         from:04/01/2014 till:04/20/2018  color:bass
 bar:Charon       from:04/20/2018 till:end  color:bass
 bar:Silent         from:03/01/1993 till:10/01/1995  color:keys
 bar:Triskent     from:10/01/1995 till:06/01/1997  color:keys
 bar:Lunaris      from:06/01/1997 till:06/01/2007  color:keys
 bar:Aless         from:04/01/2014 till:end  color:keys
 bar:Flegias     from:01/01/1992 till:09/01/2001  color:drums
 bar:Taranis      from:09/01/2001 till:11/01/2002  color:drums
 bar:Dalamar     from:02/02/2003 till:04/01/2014  color:drums
 bar:MA             from:04/01/2014 till:end  color:drums
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.operaix.it Official website]
* [http://www.displeasedrecords.com/?id=4,475 Official page at Displeased Records]
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p440710}}

{{Opera IX}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Opera Ix}}
[[Category:Blackened death metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Italian black metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Italian death metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Italian gothic metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Italian musical quintets]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1988]]
[[Category:Symphonic black metal musical groups]]