How to Like Opera 101

Original Post Date: December 5, 2006

I am totally addicted to Yahoo! Answers. I'm on there several times a day. The majority of the questions on there are totally lame. So much txt tlk you can't tell what the question is. But I keep going to back because there are real gems sometimes. This one I spent about 15 minutes composing the answer to. (Normally I'll fire off an answer in a couple of seconds)

"How does one develop an appreciation for Opera?

Opera: how to appreciate?I would like a guideline to appreciate opera, besides going to one. And where would be a nice city to live that's full of classical music, etc? Are we to read about an opera before going? Is knowing the plot/understanding Italin necessary? Tell me what is prerequisite in appreciation of opera. And...don't forget to recommend some.. And oh, I want to know because others have loved opera and I never really had the knowledge to understand why.thanks in advance."

Here is my thought out reply:

I didn't get into opera until I started singing it. But that's just me. For others, I recommend buying a CD that is a compilation of "Essential Opera" or "Opera for those who think they hate opera". Something along those lines. I know they are out there. Those CDs are full of well known arias, choruses, etc. I also agree with the person who answered previously and said to start with English. I also recommend you start with light opera. Look around for a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. They are fun! The Mikado, HMS Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance, The Gondoliers are just a few. Be sure to read the full synopsis of each act. It's often hard to understand the words, even when they are in English. That's because the singers have to modify vowels to get the best resonance. We have to sing over the orchestra, so we try to get our pronunciation as clear as possible, but sometimes it doesn't come out just right. And sometimes the music is just really fast!

If you're ready for a foreign language opera, I recommend sticking to a opera or composer that sounds familiar to you. You don't want to be stepping into the unknown, after all. That comes later. Once again, read the synopsis that should be listed in the program. If you know what's going on, then you'll be able to follow the story. You can almost tell what's going on, even if you can't understand the words.

I don't know where you live, but if there is a university close by with a good opera program, they will probably do a performance of opera scenes at least once or twice a year. This is the very best way to get your feet wet in the world of opera. They will perform scenes from a selected operas, tell you exactly what's going on, and will most likely do the scene in English. Some will be in their original language, though. Still, it's one scene, fully explained, and will give you just a taste of opera, not a whole heaping plate full. If there's not a university close by that does it, check with the nearby opera companies. They might do Opera Scenes as a fund raiser or community outreach. It's definitely worth checking out!

Finally, check with local opera companies to see if they have a special lecture before or after a performance. Opera companies are all about education outreach and might have a director or professor talking about that particular opera or parts of it. Also, find out which of your local radio station broadcasts the live performances from the Met in New York. That's a wonderful way to hear the music and have the story explained to you. Then when you actually see that opera later on, you'll be somewhat familiar with it.

Some of my favorite operas:
The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart)
Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart)
The Secret Marriage (Chimarosa)
Die Fledermaus (Strauss)
La Traviata (Verdi)
The Barber of Seville (Rossini)
The Bartered Bride (Smetana)
The Gondoliers (Gilbert & Sullivan)
The Magic Flute (Mozart)
Carmen (Bizet)
The Merry Wives of Windsor (Nicolai)
Lakme (Delibes)
The Tender Land (Copland)

Anyone can learn to appreciate opera, even if they don't love it. It's an amazing genre of music & theatre. At the very least, they can be impressed by the fact that one singer can outsing a full orchestra. Now THAT takes some pipes!