Opera

[Pumpka]

I can't even remember the last time I started a thread. This is a very random one.

Does anyone actually like opera music? I have always enjoyed classical music, especially when I was a child, but only really as long as there is no singing involved. I also love musicals, but I just have no interest in opera. If you want to tell a story by singing, why would you sing it in the most difficult to understand way? Most of the time it takes me a few minutes to tell what language a piece of opera music is sung in. I think this is because compared to other classical music, it seems to have very little structure, rhythm or repetition, so my brain can't find any patterns and gets frustrated. Or is there a structure and I just can't see it?

[bear]

I have watched a few operas with subtitles and I quite enjoyed them. I don’t ever just “listen” to them though. I honestly like the songs in certain operettas more than opera, though it is foul to admit such a thing. And I think you’re a bit confused about the structure of opera… it’s a lot like musical theatre where there are distinct songs (arias) and then dialogue, except in opera the dialogue is sung as well. the reason for this is that it sounds cool. and it’s not THAT hard to understand what they’re saying, though as I mentioned, subtitles greatly improve the experience.

and I’ll say that one thing missing from today’s opera performance, like all theatre, is the sumptuous production design that accompanied them at the time they were written, and which is I think essential to the overall aesthetic experience. I hate those barren minimalist postmodern BS opera sets.

[B.]

I'm kind of the same, I like classical music and listen to it a lot but I never choose to listen to opera. If it comes on the radio I'll keep it on, but I couldn't name one specific opera piece that I really like.

[Glittery666]

I love both classical music and opera. My grandfather is the one who turned me onto opera, he used to sing me opera before I went to bed and before my naps.

[Skelly Craig]

I'm the same as Anka, except for the confusion about structure. And I am not a fan of musicals either.

There's some opera pieces I really like musically, however. Some by Georges Bizet, for example (Tino Rossi does my fav rendition on this one). And Wagner wrote operas too, of course. I generally just stumble upon opera pieces I like when researching classical music (or sometimes through movies).

[bear]

i'll add that i despise musical theatre. it seems to be most enjoyed by people who don't otherwise like either music or theatre.

[Violent BUN Fortuna]

I like comic operas like Gilbert and Sullivan, but that's about it. I have little to no interest in the sort of operas where you can't really understand what anyone's saying, no matter the language. I appreciate the talent, but it's not for me.

Mar 14, 2022 21:18:34 GMT -5 bear said:

i'll add that i despise musical theatre. it seems to be most enjoyed by people who don't otherwise like either music or theatre.

I've never heard anyone say that before. I love musicals; I also love music and theatre separately. I think it's very common to enjoy all three art forms. 

[bear]

i mean that there is a common type of person who listens to little music outside of showtunes, and watches no theatre outside of musicals. not that they would openly declare their dislike of an art form.

[Violent BUN Fortuna]

Ohhh ok! That's a fair point, I see what you mean now.

[R.]

Mar 14, 2022 21:18:34 GMT -5 bear said:

i'll add that i despise musical theatre. it seems to be most enjoyed by people who don't otherwise like either music or theatre.

It seems Daniel Handler is writing a Snicketverse musical, you’re saying you’ll despise that and not go and see it the second you have a chance?

[bear]

the Netflix show is already practically a snicket musical, and it’s one of the main reasons I’ve only watched the first season…

[Optimism is my Phil-osophy]

I think our dear writer noticed the criticism in this regard and in season three we had some great inside jokes on the subject. It was something I really enjoyed in season three.