An idiot's Guide to Opera

Umm...hmm... I would say start with something that you're vaguely familiar with. Like, you know Rent, so why not try La Boheme by Puccini?

Or if you're familiar with Miss Saigon, why not try Madame Butterfly?

Or Aida by Verdi, if you're familiar with the musical.

At least this way, you go in vaguely knowing the storyline.

---

I would suggest anything by Mozart, Verdi or Puccini.

Avoid any German or Russian operas at first.

Avoid any English-language or contemporary operas at first as well. They are likely to seem less exciting to you than a musical.

Listen to the score or read the libretto beforehand. The more familiar you are with the story and the music, the more you're likely to enjoy it.

Let the music wash over you--the orchestra is larger and more lush than at a musical, and the music is very involved in the storytelling.

Have an overpriced drink at intermission. Opera goes well with wine.

---

Updated On: 12/15/04 at 11:07 PM

I only know the basics they teach in musical theory and history.

---

Strauss is certainly more accessible than Wagner.

You're not wrong. Wagner involved Valkyries.

Yavoll.

Der Ring des Nibelungen

Wagner, the father of all movie music.

Der Ring, the basis of the LORD OF THE RINGS

This is glorious music, dear friends. Make no mistake.

Don't worry about understanding it. Just let the music transport you.

Yes, Jose', Rosenkavalier is an unusally gentle and melodic opera for the Germans in general and Richard Strauss in particular, so, yes, I would agree with you. But Spider probably shouldn't make any other Richard Strauss opera (Salome, Die Frau Ohne Schatten) his first.

Johann Strauss, on the other hand (no relation), wrote wonderful waltzes and comedy numbers, and his Fledermaus can a lot of fun, especially at holiday time, when they have special surprise guests in the second-act party scene.

And Cookie--I was never a German opera fan until last year, when Mark asked if we could get a subscription that included the entire Ring cycle. I agreed, because I wanted to have the theatrical experience of sitting through 4 long, LONG operas, filled with fat ladies singing about love and death.

Well, they WERE long, and the ladies WERE fat (Jane Eaglen and Deborah Voight), but they had thrilling voices and so did the men (James Morris and Placido Domingo).

You could probably handle the Salome--and if Karita Mattila is playing the title role, RUN! It's rare that you see a performance of such Meryl Streep-like quality from an opera singer with a gorgeous voice who is actually attractive enough to take off her clothes during the Dance of the Seven Veils.

We're seeing two obscure operas this weekend as part of this years's over-the-top subscription: Karita Mattila in Janacek's Kát'a Kabanová on Friday (I can't even pronounce it!) and Renee Fleming in Handel's Rodelinda on Saturday.

---

All of the previous suggestions are very good. Also, Rossini's "Barber of Seville" and Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro" make a good coupling. Read the Beaumarchais play cycle they're based upon and don't just get a recording, but be sure and watch the production videos that are available. One of my favorites is Poulenc's one-act comic opera "Les Mammelles de Tiresias," which is very accessible and likely to appeal to musical theatre fans.

Other than that, as already mentioned, "Carmen" and "Rosenkavalier" are great standard introductions. Also make sure to catch Ingmar Bergman's film of "The Magic Flute." Can't imagine anyone not enjoying that.

We intend to! I'll talk to you about arranging tickets when you get back in January.

But that would be Harolyn and Debbie singing Fidelio with YOU!

Did you already see the Rodelinda?

---

Updated On: 12/15/04 at 11:57 PM

Addy, you're going to be singing with Harolyn Blackwell?

How awesome!

---

Oh, no!

Priest and Addie together again in a thread.

This wonderful opera thread will now proceed down a road of ill repute.

Oh, Jose - I would never do that to an Opera thread!

Priest - she has a glorious voice!

---