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First dive into Opera

F1Fan72

F1Fan72

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Hi all,

I wish to start to listen too and appreciate Opera..

Can anybody make any recommendations where to start (who to start listening too)..

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
 
I started with "La Boheme" (Puccini) when I was about 15. It was also the first time my hair stood on end through music. That definitely got me going:


Alternatives would include Mozart "The Marriage of Figaro", "La Traviata" (Verdi), "The Barber of Seville" (Rossini), "Carmen" (Bizet)... all of these are "easy listening" and in the pre-romantic or romantic style that uses familiar keys and tonalities, and you will probably recognise some of the music, which always helps getting going. Of course, you may want to go bolder: if so, try this short summary -

List of prominent operas - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

If you can, go to a live performance. That'll do it! (And also permanently change your basis for the evaluation of audio equipment!)
 
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In any case I would recommend to start with a live performance. As you are in the UK there are quite a few places to choose from. The experience of the event will probably set the stage for much to come.
What kind of performance to go for depends on your ideas and taste of course. It would be interesting to know more about the kind of music you prefer.
You might choose from an epoch/composer you know and like or maybe you start with an opera in English as the understanding of the dialogue can make a big difference.
The "classic" and popular choices that @ElJaimito gave are probably not a bad start.
To listen to a recording of that work might then come naturally (as preparation?).
 
Exceptional!

The usual recommendation for newcomers is "ABC". This refers to three operas:

- Aida by Verdi
- La Boheme by Puccini (The Bohemians)
- Carmen by Bizet

All three have great music, especially the tunes you'll recognize in Carmen, and are all very listenable. The stories keep your interest unlike some other operas that are primarily vehicles for star tenors and sopranos..
Keep in mind that there are readily available DVDs available for all three. Sometimes they're cheaper than the vinyl LP set. And having the story acted and sung right in front of you at home will be more captivating than listening LPs or digital. Amazon is a good place to start looking.

Opera is a wonderful art form that uniquely combines acting, singing, and orchestra. And it is for everyone, not just snobs or older folks.

My personal favorite is Die Walkure (The Valkyrie) by Richard Wagner. Some may call his music very heavy with dense orchestration and not for new listeners. I don't agree. If you're into mythical stories that have relevance even today with incredibly dynamic music, Die Walkure is the one. And yes, you'll hear/see the Ride of the Vaklyries as it was originally created. You may be surprised!

Happy listening and Bravo! on your decision to explore Opera.
 
I would also add some female perfection:

Classic Ave Maria by Elżbieta Towarnicka.
(don't forget to breath during the performance ;)


 
ElJaimito said:
I started with "La Boheme" (Puccini) when I was about 15. It was also the first time my hair stood on end through music. That definitely got me going:
Click to expand...
I agree, "La Boheme" is a great starter opera, as is "Le Nozze di Figaro." Other gateway operas include "Carmen," "Rigoletto," "L'elisir d'amore," "Madama Butterfly," "Cosi fan Tutte," and "Aida," Then there's "Magic Flute," "Faust," and... Puccini's spaghetti opera, "La Fanciulla del West." (Don't be surprised if you recognize a famous Broadway tune in this one.)

I'm not sure any of Wagner's operas are good candidates for a new opera fan, but I'll admit that "Parsifal" was an early favorite of mine and "Die Meistersinger" is one of my all time favorites. If you've got 4 or 5 hours to kill, these operas will do the job properly. Many people recommend "Die Rosenkavalier" as a first Richard Strauss opera, but I would push for "Arabella" instead, even though I've 6 recordings of the former and only 3 of the latter.

Finally, no one ever recommends it, but "Rusalka" is a gem of an opera, rarely produced outside the Czech Republic. I was lucky enough to see a production in Germany in the mid 1970s.

Anyway, welcome to the madness.
 
Opera is not my thing but I enjoy Les Misérables which is essentially a modern opera in English. Almost all of the "dialog" is sung. To me (generally a rock fan) it's great music and a great story. There are some other "similar" musicals I enjoy too. I was never a fan of the old musicals like The Sound Of Music.

But I didn't like the movie or movie soundtrack... "Too much sobbing and not enough singing." I like the Broadway soundtrack. I don't own the London soundtrack but it was the 1st version I heard, and I liked it, to my surprise! Then I bought the Broadway soundtrack and later was lucky enough to see it on stage on Broadway.

I've never seen live opera but I'd probably go if someone invited me or if it was otherwise convenient.
 
I second the recommendations above about live performances. Additionally, see if your local cinema has The Met: Live in HD performances. These are simulcasts of performances with multiple cameras, and movie theater sound. I saw the performance of Aida a few months ago, and I thought it was great. The sound in the theater was way better than the two live performances I have attended, but I was sitting back in the cheap seats (upper balcony) for those.
 
The NYC Metropolitan Opera has a streaming service with a large library of professionally filmed/recorded performances (including the ones simulcast to movie theaters mentioned above) you might want to check out - there is a 7 day free trial

Met Opera on Demand

I'll also recommend "Carmen", and I like to suggest some shorter operas for beginners (think 1 hour, not 3+ ;)) like "Pagliacci" and "Gianni Schicci" - all very accessible
 
Just curious, what pushed you in this direction? I've tried, just can't handle it for the most part.....
 
What's gonna be a great add-on and assistance is always having the libretto at hand (and its translation of course if you don't know the language)
This way you're entering the story and understand the performance.
 
Titurel said:
Finally, no one ever recommends it, but "Rusalka" is a gem of an opera, rarely produced outside the Czech Republic.
Click to expand...
I have to agree. One of the first operas I've listened to.
 
Maybe, I am one of the outsiders from conventional/orthodox opera lovers.

Edit: Please also refer to my posts #59, #60, #61, #62.

Even though I used to watch/listen to many famous Italian and German operas which so far suggested by many people on this thread, nowadays I am/have-been very much fascinated about French baroque operas (and other various music works) mainly in the era of Louis Dynasty, i.e. opera and music by Jean-Baptiste Lully, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Michel-Richard Delalande, François Couperin, et al.

In response to your requesting suggestion for opera (and/or tragédie lyrique) in this golden French era, firstly (to begin with) I would like to suggest these two excellent DVD and CD set;

Lully: Cadmus and Hermione (Vinvent Dumestre, recorded in 2019) DVD
https://www.discogs.com/release/13464402-Lully-Quinault-Vincent-Dumestre-Benjamin-Lazar-Gudrun-Skamletz-Le-Poème-Harmonique-Martin-Fraudreau
Even the opening orchestral overture is really impressive and attractive; you can view/listen to the sampler tracks on YouTube; (sorry the overture not included);

Charpentier: Médée (Les Arts Florissants / William Christie, recorded in 1994) 3-CD set
https://www.discogs.com/release/5285822-Charpentier-Les-Arts-Florissants-William-Christie-Hunt-Padmore-Deletré-Zanetti-Salzmann-Médée
You can listen to the sampler tracks on YouTube;

Edit: Please also refer to my posts #59, #60, #61, #62.
 
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Another exceptional English baroque tiny opera of my personal great favorite...

Henry Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
Really wonderful live performance by Voices of Music; I was one of the audiences at this charming concert having tears in my eyes several times;

In CD, this one has been always highly rewarded and praised as one of the authentic performances;
Michel Corboz / Chœur Du Théâtre Municipal & Ensemble Instrumental De Lausanne, with Teresa Berganza
https://www.discogs.com/release/9880229-Purcell-Teresa-Berganza-Per-Arne-Wahlgren-Danielle-Borst-Chœur-Du-Théâtre-Municipal-Ensemble-Inst
You can hear the sampler tracks on YouTube;
and thereafter...
 
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Mozart, The Magic Flute.
And, which it's not exactly an opera, Mahler, The Song Of The Earth, and also Puccini, Tosca, Maria Callas version.

And i remember my father, when i was young, singing La donna é mobile, in the morning ;)

 
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