Music Banter - Opera lovers?

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I've been to plenty of classical concerts, which I often enjoy thoroughly, but the only opera I can recall seeing is Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg by Wagner. I can't say I liked it, it was nearly six hours long (including the breaks), and the alleged "comedy" was completely lost on me. I appreciate the vast amount of work put in the opera, but it was simple too bombastic and glamorous for it to appeal to me. Maybe some other opera, perhaps by Mozart, would be a better starting point.

Got some random operas at the library. Watched 'The Rake's Progress'(Stravinsky) which amused me quite a bit. Didn't musically astound me but I like the sarcastic very simple approach.

Watched a piece of Sadko which seemed very visually, and musically interesting.

Also have Verdi's Atilla which I hadn't cracked into yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monkey (Post 1099390)

Not a big Wagner-ophile myself. I honestly thought his work was very ridiculously unsubtle to the point of insult.

I understand that it's more classical contemporary as far as genre is concerned, but Sarah Brightman is vocally...well, probably one of the most superb things I've ever heard in my life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monkey (Post 1099390)

I think an opera by Mozart would be a much better starting point, Monkey. Your opinion of Wagner is almost exactly the same as the one I formed after watching many by him:

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA (Post 759036)

My parents graciously invited me to a Berlin opera series that, I think, included *all* Wagner's operas over the course of a year. The operas were very, very long...and we were often very, very high up in the seats. So, it was difficult to follow the action and emotion. Sometimes the plots seemed far-fetched so that I could not suspend disbelief and thus always watched them with a feeling of divide or separation, rather than feeling immersed in the action, in the moment of the play/opera.

Often the songs seem more about demonstrating skills (such as with super high notes) than conveying emotion. Yet there are opera songs that *are* incredibly beautiful and moving!

I've seen several Mozart operas, and although they've faded from my memory, what's left is the feeling that the music is much more accessible, melodic, and playful than Wagner. Not being able to understand the words, though, always hampers my enjoyment of operas that aren't in English or German. Subtitles are nice. :)

Mozart - "The Marriage of Figaro"
Seattle Opera Presents The Marriage of Figaro
A selection of scenes

The OP also mentioned "The Magic Flute," which is charming with catchy and silly songs such as the famous...

Mozart - "Papageno and Papagena" from "The Magic Flute"

An English translation of the German lyrics can be found here: http://www.aria-database.com/transla...agic_flute.txt
This song begins (after all the Pa Pa Pa-ing) as follows:

PAPAGENO: Bist du mir nun ganz ergeben? Have you now yielded to me?
PAPAGENA: Nun bin ich dir ganz ergeben. Now I have yielded to you.
PAPAGENO: Nun, so sei mein liebes Weibchen! Now, then be my dear little wife!
PAPAGENA: Nun, so sei mein Herzenstäubchen, Now, then be the dove of my heart,
Mein Herzenstäubchen! The dove of my heart!
PAPAGENO: Mein liebes Weibchen, mein Herzenstäubchen. My dear little wife, dove of my heart.

Then they sing about defeating Zero Population Growth by being blessed with a profusion of young Papagenos and Papagenas (aka children). ;)

Watched Sadko, and Atilla. Enjoyed both musically wasn't astonished by either, though. Sadko had a well more interesting story, and visuals, and was amazing in it's inclusion of fish people.

off-topic but has anybody got a download link to Bartok's The Miraculous Mandarin that works?

(ballet)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Il Duce (Post 1104692)

off-topic but has anybody got a download link to Bartok's The Miraculous Mandarin that works?

(ballet)

This should work for you:

http;//www.nuisancedownloads.com/ballet/bartok

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Summit Awards for Best Humor and Best TV. It's good music too.

877-Cash-Now Opera Commercial

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwt7000 (Post 1105220)

Best new opera singer, a toss-up between Jackie Evancho and Barbara Padilla, who both were once contestants in America's Got talent.

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It's interesting that Padilla and Evancho sang the same 'O mio babbino caro', since that makes a direct comparison that much easier. But we're comparing an adult with a child. I preferred Evancho's performance, even though her child's lungs hold her back a bit. Great potential there.

Jackie Evancho

America's Got Talent YouTube Special - Jackie Evancho - YouTube

Barbara Padilla

Barbara Padilla's 1st Audition America's Got Talent 2009 HQ - YouTube

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