Anyone like opera?

[joshrp]

I love the music of Wagner. I don’t see how his anti-Semitism should discourage us from enjoying his music. He was an excellent composer regardless of his unsavory views.

If we threw out every author, musician, or artist in history who subscribed to problematic views, we would have rather fiew left.

I think his music makes people crazy and irrational, because that is honestly what Wagner believed about human beings, that they are nothing but crazy and irrational pleasure seeking beasts.

 

[asnate]

And what about Tannhauser? I don’t know what Vagner was thinking himself writing this piece, but for me this this is an expression of a true Christian hope.

 

[AF_Fugue]

I personally can’t stand Wagner. I forced myself to listen to his entire Ring Cycle, all 13 hours of it, just to give him a chance. But I think he is horrible. Plus, he really hated Jewish people, and I don’t think he is any good for society.

Well, there’s your problem! Nobody who listens to the entire Ring Cycle likes Wagner after that! As a famous musician once said, “Wagner has beautiful moments, but awful quarter-hours.”

I do love me some opera, though. My favorites tend to be Opera Buffa, such as Die Fledermaus. Seriously, if you want to get into opera, but can’t stand all the crying and dying, check out Die Fledermaus – it’s one huge practical joke. I also love the music from Carmen, but the entire production kind of drags on for me.

And one point of semantics from a music major - Handel didn’t write any operas, as far as I’m aware - Messiah is actually an oratorio. It is similar to an opera musically and thematically, but is often based on sacred text. The most important distinction, though, is that an oratorio is meant to sung in a concert setting, as opposed to an opera, which is designed to be staged. (Complete with sets, costumes, etc.)

 

[Desertmesa]

I love the music of Wagner. I don’t see how his anti-Semitism should discourage us from enjoying his music. He was an excellent composer regardless of his unsavory views.

If we threw out every author, musician, or artist in history who subscribed to problematic views, we would have rather fiew left.

Well said Rashkoinikov!

De Ring De Nibulingen (sp??) by Wagner is sooooo very beautiful. :thumbsup:The work of a total musical genius. Yes, he was rather flambouyant in his life-style and thoughts , but most great Artist’s are.

My first live 4 day Opera was that one, staged for the first time at the Seattle Opera House
in 1975, or maybe 1976. It was an incredible experience.

 

[Desertmesa]

And what about Tannhauser? I don’t know what Vagner was thinking himself writing this piece, but for me this this is an expression of a true Christian hope.

Tannhauser is another beautiful Opera! To view it as a live performance is fantastic.

 

[Sarabande]

Yes!!! Absolutely LOVE it. But I also work as an opera singer, so I’d have to at least like it, right?

 

[Desertmesa]

Oh my goodness!

I offer you my compliments, and deep respect for the exceptional job you chose.
Did your training begin at a fairly young age like many opera singer’s I have read about?

After reading your uplifting post on here, I really must get tickets to attend the Santa Fe
Opera before they close for the season.
God Bless you!

 

[Sarabande]

I can take Wagner in snippets. As much as I love opera, I just can’t sit for hours on end watching the Ring Cycle. It just can’t be done by me.

That said, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the “Mild und leise” (Liebestodt). Margaret Price is my favorite for this. She is actually one of my favorite singers. She does Mozart (was originally known as a Mozart soprano before getting into heavier rep) gorgeously as well as lieder beautifully.

Richard Strauss is one of my favorites for opera and German lieder. I didn’t understand or like his music when I was younger. It wasn’t until I saw “Der Rosenkavalier” when I was 23 that it finally just clicked for me. The counterpoint in his music is incredible. It’s almost like it was kissed by God. And that final trio in the opera… oh my… every time I hear it, I cry my eyes out.

 

[Desertmesa]

I can take Wagner in snippets. As much as I love opera, I just can’t sit for hours on end watching the Ring Cycle. It just can’t be done by me.

That said, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the “Mild und leise” (Liebestodt). Margaret Price is my favorite for this. She is actually one of my favorite singers. She does Mozart (was originally known as a Mozart soprano before getting into heavier rep) gorgeously as well as lieder beautifully.

Richard Strauss is one of my favorites for opera and German lieder. I didn’t understand or like his music when I was younger. It wasn’t until I saw “Der Rosenkavalier” when I was 23 that it finally just clicked for me. The counterpoint in his music is incredible. It’s almost like it was kissed by God. And that final trio in the opera… oh my… every time I hear it, I cry my eyes out.

Greeting’s Sarahbande!
Yes, Margaret Price is an exceptional Opera performer. I saw her live performance’s quite a few years ago. I do not remember if it was in The Magic Flute, but I did experience her beautiful voice and demeanor in several.
Good reminder about Richard Strauss! Did he also compose The Four Season’s?
One of my fave’s for sure.
I love your description of his composition of Der Rosenkavalier: “like it was kissed by God”.

Well, if I could, I would ask you for your autograph. I am so glad you shared some great Opera introspection from one who has “been there and done that”.
Ok, now I must go find my Opera records and put them on the turntable. (Yes folks, DVD’s are not the only way to go).

 

[Sarabande]

Oh my goodness!

I offer you my compliments, and deep respect for the exceptional job you chose.
Did your training begin at a fairly young age like many opera singer’s I have read about?

After reading your uplifting post on here, I really must get tickets to attend the Santa Fe
Opera before they close for the season.
God Bless you!

Awww… thanks. It’s extremely hard work for little to decent pay for most singers, so you have to do it for the love it, for the art and choose it as a “calling”. No ego allowed except for just enough to have the confidence to get up and sing. That’s one thing I always tell the younger singers either still in university/conservatory study or just starting out. Many don’t realize how hard it will be. I’m in my early 30s and although I have finally surpassed the 60% who make $10,000 a year or less, it’s still not easy financially speaking.

I started studying piano at 4 then moved to classical voice at 13 1/2 never thinking I’d become an opera singer. It seemed so daunting having to learn languages and just being able to master a technique of singing without the use of microphones. I thought I was going to be a writer then. haha! When I was 18 I realized that I was smart enough and talented enough to pursue it and saw how much I loved opera and classical singing after winning a competition, so I decided to continue study. Although, my practical side had me major in journalism as a backup plan. I continued to study through my college years. Then when I graduated and started working, every time I tried to steer away from it, it seemed as if God kept steering me back, constantly putting it into my face. It was definitely in my blood. Then when I studied for a summer at the Mozarteum music conservatory in Salzburg, it was there that I accepted my “fate” and fell completely in love. I was at a point in my life where I had just gotten married, was the happiest I had ever been and really was starting to understand myself as a person. So, I’ve just been plugging away hard core since then.

I had a parttime job to cover expenses until last year when I had a serious prayer session and talk with my husband and realized that I had to just let go of financial fear and go for it. It was the best decision of my life… and I get to spend much more time with my 19-month-old… who also likes opera, btw.

 

[Sarabande]

Greeting’s Sarahbande!
Yes, Margaret Price is an exceptional Opera performer. I saw her live performance’s quite a few years ago. I do not remember if it was in The Magic Flute, but I did experience her beautiful voice and demeanor in several.
Good reminder about Richard Strauss! Did he also compose The Four Season’s?
One of my fave’s for sure.
I love your description of his composition of Der Rosenkavalier: “like it was kissed by God”.

Well, if I could, I would ask you for your autograph. I am so glad you shared some great Opera introspection from one who has “been there and done that”.
Ok, now I must go find my Opera records and put them on the turntable. (Yes folks, DVD’s are not the only way to go).

So happy to see another M. Price fan. She unfortunately just passed away this past year. Here’s her “Mild und Leise”

youtube.com/watch?v=EDCdKvR_ZQ0

Antonio Vivaldi composed “The Four Seasons”, unless Strauss wrote an opera called the same, but I don’t think he did.

I’m in no way worthy to write anyone my autograph, but that’s very kind.

P.S. Also love the old records. I don’t own any, but some of the best interpretations are on those.

 

[Sarabande]

And one point of semantics from a music major - Handel didn’t write any operas, as far as I’m aware - Messiah is actually an oratorio. It is similar to an opera musically and thematically, but is often based on sacred text. The most important distinction, though, is that an oratorio is meant to sung in a concert setting, as opposed to an opera, which is designed to be staged. (Complete with sets, costumes, etc.)

Handel did compose a lot of oratorio, that is true, but he was actually known for his operas as well.

Some of his more popular ones:
“Rinaldo”
“Julius Cesar”
“Aggrippina”
“Rodelinda” (I believe recently performed at the Met about a couple years ago with Fleming as the title role)
“Alcina”
“Serse” or “Xerxes”
“Ariodante”

 

[Desertmesa]

What a great blessing God bestowed upon you.
The fact that you “listened” to His direction of what path to choose is also a blessing.

I absolutely loved your story of how you began as a pianist so young, and then gradually were led towards operatic voice lessons.
Yes, as a linguist myself with several languages, I definitely can appreciate the difficulty many Opera singer’s must face with having to learn a few, or even several languages, in order to perform certain Opera’s. Wow.

Your uplifting words chosen, from an actual Opera singer, shall most likely warm many heart’s on this forum, towards either re-connecting with the grand experience of live Opera, or nudge
Opera “newbie’s” into wanting to discover the beautiful realm that many Opera’s can give.

If you ever have a performance scheduled for the Sante Fe Opera House, or the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, we shall attend. (PM me if you perform there)

Your post’s here made my day for sure. All the best to you and your precious family.

 

[Desertmesa]

So happy to see another M. Price fan. She unfortunately just passed away this past year. Here’s her “Mild und Leise”

youtube.com/watch?v=EDCdKvR_ZQ0

Antonio Vivaldi composed “The Four Seasons”, unless Strauss wrote an opera called the same, but I don’t think he did.

I’m in no way worthy to write anyone my autograph, but that’s very kind.

P.S. Also love the old records. I don’t own any, but some of the best interpretations are on those.

Great! Thanks for the corrections on the actual composer’s of certain opera’s!

I did not know that Madame Price passed over to the other side recently. Thankyou for this update. Now I am grateful I had the pleasure of seeing her live performances when I did.

Good day to you.

 

[Desertmesa]

Just went to the YouTube link you included for Margaret Price.

As her voice began to sing I was filled with chills and tears.

Truelly, she was one of the greatest performer’s of Isolde in recent times.

Thankyou for this link. I shall share it with my husband tonite.

 

[Young_Thinker]

I agree. Operas are too uncommon these days, especially in American cities. And I can’t say I disagreee with you about Wagner’s sopranos, though he his possibly my favorite composer. There is an album you might be interested in “Wagner without words,” which has instrumentals from many of his operas. Though many of the vocals in Wagner are sublime. For example, should I get married someday, I am resolved to hire a choir to sing the wedding march from Lohengrin rather than just having it played on the organ.

Indeed, I love Wagner’s music, too! Thanks for the information. And I hope that that wedding day will come very soon.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Richard Strauss is one of my favorites for opera and German lieder. I didn’t understand or like his music when I was younger. It wasn’t until I saw “Der Rosenkavalier” when I was 23 that it finally just clicked for me. The counterpoint in his music is incredible. It’s almost like it was kissed by God. And that final trio in the opera… oh my… every time I hear it, I cry my eyes out.

I couldn’t agree more. I’ve listened to a decent amount of opera music, but up intol a few months ago had never actually seen one. The first opera I ever saw, while in Munich for a college class, was der Rosenkavalier, in the very opera house where it was first perfromed. “Kissed by God,” I couldn’t describe it better myself.

asnate:

And what about Tannhauser? I don’t know what Vagner was thinking himself writing this piece, but for me this this is an expression of a true Christian hope.

And parsifel too was rather thematically Christian. Wagner was known for being a friend and sympathizer of Nietzsche, but Nietzsche fo course broke with him and began writing anti-Wagner polemics: the reason, apparently, was Parcifal. It was too good, and too Christian, and Nietzsche couldn’t stand it.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Awww… thanks. It’s extremely hard work for little to decent pay for most singers, so you have to do it for the love it, for the art and choose it as a “calling”. No ego allowed except for just enough to have the confidence to get up and sing. That’s one thing I always tell the younger singers either still in university/conservatory study or just starting out. Many don’t realize how hard it will be. I’m in my early 30s and although I have finally surpassed the 60% who make $10,000 a year or less, it’s still not easy financially speaking.

I started studying piano at 4 then moved to classical voice at 13 1/2 never thinking I’d become an opera singer. It seemed so daunting having to learn languages and just being able to master a technique of singing without the use of microphones. I thought I was going to be a writer then. haha! When I was 18 I realized that I was smart enough and talented enough to pursue it and saw how much I loved opera and classical singing after winning a competition, so I decided to continue study. Although, my practical side had me major in journalism as a backup plan. I continued to study through my college years. Then when I graduated and started working, every time I tried to steer away from it, it seemed as if God kept steering me back, constantly putting it into my face. It was definitely in my blood. Then when I studied for a summer at the Mozarteum music conservatory in Salzburg, it was there that I accepted my “fate” and fell completely in love. I was at a point in my life where I had just gotten married, was the happiest I had ever been and really was starting to understand myself as a person. So, I’ve just been plugging away hard core since then.

I had a parttime job to cover expenses until last year when I had a serious prayer session and talk with my husband and realized that I had to just let go of financial fear and go for it. It was the best decision of my life… and I get to spend much more time with my 19-month-old… who also likes opera, btw.

That’s quite beautiful. A mild consolation though it may be, I have tremendous respect for that and for your profession in general. Creating beauty is certainly among the noblest vocations there is. I’ve actually had a couples opera singers in training as classmates of mine in German classes, and it certainly appears to be hard work. They even were required to take not only German, but also French and Italian. But a rewarding profession I’m sure, not least of all for me, who gets to hear the music.
Young Thinker:

Indeed, I love Wagner’s music, too! Thanks for the information. And I hope that that wedding day will come very soon.

If I can’t wait for it, I have an even better (perhaps worse) idea. A German teacher of mine told my class that for her frst date with her future husband, he took her to see the Ring Cycle. What is it, 9 hourse long?! Maybe I should that with a girl. If she can sit through the entire Ring Cycle with me and still be willing to go on a second date, she may well be the one.

 

[Sarabande]

Just went to the YouTube link you included for Margaret Price.

As her voice began to sing I was filled with chills and tears.

Truelly, she was one of the greatest performer’s of Isolde in recent times.

Thankyou for this link. I shall share it with my husband tonite.

That is how I almost always react whenever I hear her sing it. It’s funny. My husband and I were listening to it on Sunday because we were getting a kick out of how our daughter was reacting to all the music we were pulling up on Youtube… symphonies, chamber groups, art songs, opera, alternative music to children’s songs, etc. When we pulled up Price and she started to sing, I just lost it and my husband’s eyes were wet and red. We looked at each other, I said to him, "I can’t help it, " and then we just started laughing.

 

[Sarabande]

I couldn’t agree more. I’ve listened to a decent amount of opera music, but up intol a few months ago had never actually seen one. The first opera I ever saw, while in Munich for a college class, was der Rosenkavalier, in the very opera house where it was first perfromed. “Kissed by God,” I couldn’t describe it better myself.

What an incredible experience!!! You are so fortunate. I love the Munich Stattsoper. I never got to see an opera there as I was only in Munich for a day, but I got my picture in front of opera house.