What is Opera?
Opera is a form of theater with music. What makes opera so intense is the combination of words and music to transmit emotions in a play. The feelings that music conveys together with words, are able to awaken inside us emotive impressions deeper than words alone can.
Opera is a form of theater with music. What makes opera so intense is the combination of words and music to transmit emotions in a play. The feelings that music conveys together with words, are able to awaken inside us emotive impressions deeper than words alone can.
If word is the means
to express the literal and rational part of the message, music is the language
of feelings.
In opera you can find
the same emotions that we experience in our daily life (jealousy, impossible love,
betrayal, friendship, love-duty conflict...) By identifying ourselves with the
characters and the situations they go through, we can recognize in them part of
our own being. In that sense, opera can be a means to better get to know
ourselves.
The big emotional
impact that it can trigger is what makes opera a source of such a powerful
intense enjoyment that leads so many people in the world to fall in love with
this great performing art.
How to start listening to opera?
It is not recommended
to start by simply acquiring a ticket for the next opera performance in your
nearest theater.
On one hand, not every
opera is a proper one for a first time. On the other, before being able to enjoy
an opera, some effort will be required from your side. It is advisable to know
the work that is to be performed in advance. Ideally, you should have "learnt"
the opera before: in other words, knowing the story and having listening its
music. That effort is to be, for sure, rewarded.
How to "learn" an opera?
Learning an opera
guarantees a source of fulfillment and enjoyment, both at the opera house and at
home while listening to the wonderful recordings available.
The first thing to
learn an opera is to know the story. Reading the synopsis can suffice, better yet,
reading the libretto. Both libretto and synopsis are usually found with the CD
set. You can find them as well in Internet.
Once you are familiar
with the plot, it is time to hear the music. Let yourself go by the feelings it arises,
without
going through a rational analysis yet.
Listen to music as you
read the libretto, bilingual so that you can read the text in its original
language and note the slight differences that singers may introduce in how they
pronounce each word. By understanding the meaning of each sentence combined with
its music you will realize how intimately together music and verses are. The
character feelings are highlighted by the music. The emotional dimension is
amplified far beyond what words by themselves can achieve. Furthermore, the
effect created by a duo, trio or quartet when all characters sing ensemble,
expressing at the very same time opposite feelings, offers an artistic
potential that can not be imagined with only spoken theater.
Step by step. Once you
have the opera CD set and the libretto, follow
the next steps:
1. Read the first
act synopsis. Read it only for this act an stop, so that the plot is fresh
in your mind while listening to the act.
2. Listen to the
first act at the same time you follow the libretto. Pay attention to both
the original language and the English translation, so that you can associate the
words in their original form with the meaning. As you read and listen try
imagine the scenes, the situation and characters.
3. Just after
reading the second act synopsis, listen to it with the libretto.
4. Repeat the steps
with each of the following acts
5. The second time
you listen to the opera, do it again by following the libretto. This time
you will be able to recognize musical themes, and perceive details you
probably missed during the first listening.
Next time you listen
to the opera you will experience an increasing pleasure with it. Before enjoying
a night at the opera, it is recommended to follow the previous steps, and learn
the opera to be performed in advance to going to the theater. Obviously, you do
not need to do all steps within the same day. Take your time. First listening of
an operatic work always requires some effort. Once you have done it, and learnt
it, the work will became an everlasting source of enjoyment
What
opera to listen to first?
There is not a fixed
rule for the first opera to listen to. Some masterpieces are more suitable ,
anyhow, for a first encounter with opera than others that might require some
previous experience with opera to fully appreciate them.
Rigoletto is our
recommendation to start learning (La Traviata can be an alternative choice). In
this opera you will find some of the basic elements that are part of the lyric
drama, as we understand it today. Well-defined characters, a dramatic consistent
plot, and music playing a key role in drama.
These are the first
operas we propose you to start with. Two alternatives are provided.
-
Rigoletto / La Traviata. Basic elements of drama in opera.
-
Tosca / La Boheme. Puccini. Lyric drama as a musical whole without interruptions
-
Lucia di Lammermoor / Il Trovatore. Romantic Opera (recitative, aria, cabaletta)
-
D. Giovanni /Le Nozze di Figaro . Mozart. Classical opera
After that, go on with
any of the greatest operas in the international repertoire (you can see a
selection in our recommended recordings)
If you get to feel the
passion for opera, prepare to experience memorable moments. Once you get to
love it, the opportunities to go on discovering new things in opera will always
be there. Sometimes you will suddenly find a fragment you had not highly
regarded and that now moves you in a special way, maybe because you recognize in
it a feeling you have experienced recently in your life. Or maybe a new artist
performance or an undiscovered detail now is able to send you into states of
ecstatic abandon.
If you really get to
love Opera, congratulations! and welcome! See you in theater...
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