Advice on opera?

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 12:37pm

I'm going to my first opera this weekend. I don't actually know anyone who's gone before so I just wondered if any of you had. I mean, I know the difference between opera and musicals, but is there anything I should remember? And do people dress up more to go to the opera? Thanks.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 12:53pm

In my experience people do dress up more for the Opera, but in a pinch I have gone right from work in casual clothes. It does seem to diminish the "Eventness" of the evening.

My advice is to know as much about the piece you are seeing as possible- I have a book called "A visit to the Opera" that dives synopsis, history and background info for all the major repertory- In a pinch I've wikipedia'd plots.

Lastly, I found supertitles VERY helpful. To me it's like watching a foreign film with great music.

Enjoy!

[whatever2]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 12:59pm

if you REALLY know the difference between opera and musical, i know several publishers who would like to sign you ...

i see over 30 operas a year in cities all across north america.

opera generally is a bit dressier than broadway, but you'll still see everything. partly, the level of dress depends on: (a) evening or matinee; (b) where you're sitting; and, (c) whether it's a premiere (i.e., the first night of a production).

know the story line, use the super-titles, and pay more attention to the score than you might in a musical (it's more likely to be conveying something).

oh -- and DEFINITELY have a glass of champagne at the interval!!!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 1:07pm

Which opera are u going to see and where? During the 60s, 70s and 80s, I went to many performances in Chicago and New York. I'd be interested to hear about your experience.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 1:10pm

Read the synopsis beforehand.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 1:43pm

The above suggestions are great. I'd even add that if you have access to a music library (such as at a university), it doesn't hurt to listen to the score or watch a DVD in advance. (I'm not suggesting you buy a recording because opera CDs are expensive and I have no idea what you will be seeing.)

Mostly I want to add that if it sounds like opera takes a little more work than ANYTHING GOES, it often does. But it repays you handsomely for the extra effort. Have fun!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 2:49pm

Which opera is it? With youtube you can usually at least check out the main arias of most. I'm just (slowly, and partially thanks to a friend on here) getting into opera, but I think you'll love it.

[MisterSnow89]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 2:59pm

I agree with what has been said above. Definitely read a synopsis and at least look up some of the signature arias from the show. In my experience knowing at least a few of the key musical moments has really helped me appreciate it. What opera are you seeing? I'll be curious to hear what you think!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 3:02pm

One big difference between opera and theatre is audience behavior.

Audiences at the opera are stone quiet when the music is playing. There's no chit chat or humming. People are concentrating.

During curtain calls or even breaks in the scenes is another story. If you really like the singer or their interpretation of the aria just sung, a well-placed 'bravo' is welcomed. Audience reaction, particularly positive reaction, is audible if not downright noisy.

Also, the audience doesn't stand up and applaud because that is what they're used to doing. Standing ovations are rare. I can't remember seeing one.

On rare occasions, there may be a hearty round of "boos" at the curtain as well.

Opera audiences are more fanatical and generous and critical and discerning and wonderful.

Enjoy.

What is the work you're seeing and where?

[whatever2]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 3:44pm

sadly, that observation about opera audiences being stone quiet is less universally true than it was even a few years ago.

i was just at the met for "butterfly" last night (i love the visual impact of the minghella production), and it was the noisiest damn audience i've sat in in ages.

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 4:16pm

Thanks for all the advice! I'm seeing Aida performed by my local opera theater.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 4:49pm

Since your local company may not have supertitles, you may want to read up on Aida before seeing it. I would think because Aida is, traditionally, a spectacle, and parts of its score are very melodic, it might be a very good choice for a first opera for one who enjoys musicals.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 5:13pm

Give this a quick read:

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/history/stories/synopsis.aspx?id=430

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 7:41pm

You might want to visit your local library and see if they have a book that contains the stories of operas. If they have the movie version of Sophia Loren's AIDA available, check it out. It's hilarious in some respects, but gives you an idea of what the story is all about.

[mallardo]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 5:58am

If you've seen the Elton John version you pretty much know what the story's about.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 6:04am

Advice on opera? Treat it like anything else, it's just theatre.

Would you really feel it vital to read the synopsis or listen to the score of a musical before viewing? Composers didn't write opera with that in mind. Just go in and appreciate what's going on. Be wowed by Verdi's score, and be impressed by anything else that might be going on. But don't try and set yourself up negatively for what might happen onstage.

That's not really the point of theatre, is it?

[whatever2]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 1:20pm

Clap Yo Hands: no offsense, but that advice is highly idiosyncratic in two ways: (a) unlike opera, theater usually is presented in a language understood by the majority of its audience; and, (b) if an audience member doesn't speak the language in which an opera is being performed, s/he very well may find it frustrating not to have had a fuller background.

some people are comfortable going with the flow, others want to understand as much of the dialogue as possible -- that's a matter of personal preference, not right or wrong.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 2:32pm

And traditionally opera, and ballet (and hell, even much pre mid 19th century theatre) was done with the expectation that the audience WOULD know the story in advance. It was a different cimate in that respect.

Aida is a great intro to opera (isn't the saying that the ABCs for an opera newbie are Aida, La Boheme and Carmen?)

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 2:42pm

...if an audience member doesn't speak the language in which an opera is being performed, s/he very well may find it frustrating not to have had a fuller background....

True. What's more, opera singers are taught to use diction that makes English lyrics virtually incomprehensible. There are exceptions, singers who specialize in Benjamin Britton's work and other English-language operas, but even composers and English-language librettists recognize this problem.

ClapYo'Hands summarizes Wagner's ideal of opera, but the reality is something else.

Still worth it, BTW, but knowing the synopsis in advance is usually a must.

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 3/11/12 at 11:52am

Thank you all so much for your advice. I saw the show last night and it was truly a lovely experience. I did read the synopsis beforehand (thanks for posting that!), and the program also included one. I've seen the Elton John Broadway version before, so I had an idea of what was going on; it was interesting from that standpoint to see the differences and similarities and where the Broadway team got their ideas. I thought the music was really beautiful, and the performers were very good. The only downside was that the audience was surprisingly noisy; the worst was a pair of women right next to me who kept giggling and muttering through the show (I did shush them and so did someone behind us!). Anyways, it was a great evening and I really appreciated everyone's advice!

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 3/11/12 at 3:51pm

So glad to hear you enjoyed it, bwayrose7.

And sorry about the audience. I fear Dolby sound in films and the casual nature of television viewing have ruined theatergoers.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/11/12 at 4:06pm

I did shush them and so did someone behind us!

GOOD!! So glad you had a great time!