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ghoti_mhic_uaitTom and I went to an opera at the weekend. I normally don't bother with opera unless someone I know is in it, because it's not really my thing, but his parents were enthusiastic (I hadn't realised his mother is treasurer of the university operatic society) and I figured I'd give it a go.
Donizetti L'elisir d'amore. Which is a comic opera. I don't generally like comedies either, but I hadn't paid enough attention to notice that might not be the best match.
Well, the singing and playing was exquisite, the costuming somewhat odd but nothing to complain about the direction. The surtitles were somewhat lacking in panache, but the diction of the singers good enough that i could mostly follow along, despite my Italian vocab being largely conspic by its a.
All in all, fair enough, but not my cup of tea.
But, I like musicals. Tom doesn't see a distinction, which I found interesting in itself. I can see the musical style as a defining characteristic, but often operas are similar to oratorios in stlye, and I tend to like those. Could it be storyline? I mean, I love Hugo so no surprise I love Les Mis, for example. Give me an opera in the same vein as 1776 and Hamilton, and maybe I'll go for that too? But instead, they often seem to have RomCom storylines, and I just find that dull.
So why do I like the one and not the other? Or are there operas out there for me, just not the ones I normally get recommended? I'm reminded of when I first liked whisky, after years of people offering 'accessible' whiskies I disliked, it was only when I tried Laphroig that I really started to appreciate whisky. Is it possible that I'm starting at the wrong end of opera?
Also, where does one draw a line between musical and opera?
Donizetti L'elisir d'amore. Which is a comic opera. I don't generally like comedies either, but I hadn't paid enough attention to notice that might not be the best match.
Well, the singing and playing was exquisite, the costuming somewhat odd but nothing to complain about the direction. The surtitles were somewhat lacking in panache, but the diction of the singers good enough that i could mostly follow along, despite my Italian vocab being largely conspic by its a.
All in all, fair enough, but not my cup of tea.
But, I like musicals. Tom doesn't see a distinction, which I found interesting in itself. I can see the musical style as a defining characteristic, but often operas are similar to oratorios in stlye, and I tend to like those. Could it be storyline? I mean, I love Hugo so no surprise I love Les Mis, for example. Give me an opera in the same vein as 1776 and Hamilton, and maybe I'll go for that too? But instead, they often seem to have RomCom storylines, and I just find that dull.
So why do I like the one and not the other? Or are there operas out there for me, just not the ones I normally get recommended? I'm reminded of when I first liked whisky, after years of people offering 'accessible' whiskies I disliked, it was only when I tried Laphroig that I really started to appreciate whisky. Is it possible that I'm starting at the wrong end of opera?
Also, where does one draw a line between musical and opera?
