The Art of Grand Opera
Before you hit that back button, please listen to me for just one moment! I know what you're thinking. Opera. Uggggh. I know. Lots of screeching and bad costumes. Some nice tunes to hum, but who can understand any of the words? Even if it is in your own language, which is doubtful. Let's face it. Say "opera", and people start to back away from you. The word conjures up images of strangely dressed people singing so high or so low that you can't understand a single word. Several people, all singing at the same time, what sound like completely different songs. Like listening to five different people, reciting five different poems, all at once. The tenors aren't too bad, but those warbling sopranos. Those notes should be reserved for making the cats hide and the dogs howl. And what's with the screaming chorus?!
Now that we've gotten out of the way, let's discuss Grand Opera for a moment. This isn't about the operettas performed by the school groups (we'll eventually have a page for those). It's what Andy Griffith referred to as "high-palate" singing. It's the play combined with classical music which becomes an opera. It's some of the loveliest music ever written, when performed by the greats. It's music that transcends language, so it doesn't matter whether or not you understand the words. It's the music. That's all I can say.
While "The Three Tenors" have done marvelous things for gaining some acceptance of Opera, there's so much more waiting for even the casual student. Our study has been designed to introduce you to a wide variety of styles in music, and Opera is an essential experience. Just a little. Start slowly. One of Sutherland's mad scenes. Domingo's crying clown. If you're just interested in a "sampler plate", then watch the two movies on our list, and you'll have a good set of conversation starters. It's not as bad as you think.
For More In-Depth Study
BOOKS
The
Great Singers (Henry Pleasants)
The Da Capo Opera Manual (Nicholas Ivor Martin)
Opera Anecdotes (Ethan Mordden)
MOVIES
The Art of Singing: Golden Voices of the Century (1998)
James Levine's 25th Anniversary: Met Opera Gala (1996)
CDs
Puccini (2008, Angela Gheorghiu)
Essential Opera (2005, Various Artists)
The Ultimate Opera Divas Album (1998, Various Artists)
The Great Singers (Henry Pleasants)
The Da Capo Opera Manual (Nicholas Ivor Martin)
Opera Anecdotes (Ethan Mordden)
The Art of Singing: Golden Voices of the Century (1998)
James Levine's 25th Anniversary: Met Opera Gala (1996)
Puccini (2008, Angela Gheorghiu)
Essential Opera (2005, Various Artists)
The Ultimate Opera Divas Album (1998, Various Artists)
