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From: elf@utcsrgv.UUCP (Eugene Fiume)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: Re: Introduction to the Opera
Message-ID: <4275@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 14-May-84 15:43:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.4275
Posted: Mon May 14 15:43:26 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 14-May-84 19:32:16 EDT
References: <4148@utcsrgv.UUCP>, <463@opus.UUCP>
Organization: CSRG, University of Toronto
Lines: 30

Someone made the interesting observation that there isn't necessarily
a correlation between liking opera and liking "classical" music.  Indeed,
opera is itself so diverse that it's hard to compare the various styles.
There's also an amazing difference between listening to a recorded opera and
seeing a performance of one.  If you are willing to suspend your cynicism,
a live performance, with all its pomp and extroversion, can be a moving
experience.

I guess the images of opera that should be overcome are those of some
male or female beefcake belting out a pretty aria, horns and chestplate
optional.

Be warned that the libretto is not always the best possible representative
of Italian, French, or German literature.  The Italian libretti I've
looked at take a lot of euphonic liberties with the language.

Those of you who are tentative about opera may want to try out other
kinds of vocal music.  The masses, chansons, and masses by earlier
composers such as des Prez and Monteverdi are often lovely.
The King's Singers are probably a good introduction to this music,
since their albums are spiced with lots of variety, most of it
exceptionally well-performed.
Benjamin Britten's War Requiem (I don't think of it as an opera) is very
beautiful and surprisingly understated, considering the subject matter (guess).
Stephen Foster's songs are often sentimental, but who can deny the brilliance
of "Beautiful Dreamer".   Of course there are all the other songs & cycles
by better-knowns like Schubert and Wolf (well, maybe Wolf isn't so well-known).

Eugene Fiume
U of Toronto