Learning Opera - the Easy Way
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by: Guest
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"Screeching women in helmets" - that's a lot of people's impression of opera. I must admit several years ago I wasn't far from that myself. I'd taken piano for 12 years, and been "exposed" to opera, as my parents called it -- "Madame Butterfly" at a puppet theater, where I was a lot more interested in the buffet. Then my to-be husband took me on our second date to "The Flying Dutchman," but I was a lot more interested in my husband-to-be.
Fast-forward many years and I meet the next husband-to-be, an Italian pianist who can play Rachmaninoff's 3rd, and cut his teeth on opera. I get interested - in both - and start learning.
Here's how:
1. Go to an opera.
An opera is meant to be experienced. The first year I saw "Don Giovanni," "The Magic Flute," The Barber of Seville," and "Turandot" (in Santa Fe!) . It is worth it to save up and see one a year, if you can buy the best seats.
2. Conversely, don't start by reading.
A well-meaning client sent me her college textbook on opera. It was worse than useless. It's like reading a recipe thinking you've had cake, instead of tasting and smelling a freshly baked cake.
3. AUGMENT with tapes, books, research, and like-minded people.
While attending operas, I listened to tapes, and read about the operas and composers. I quickly founded Club Vivo Per Lei / I Live for Music and created the website to share the experience. It was a natural since I coach emotional intelligence, and music is so important to our health. My research for the weekly ezine keeps me learning. Membership is international, and has doubled in the past 6 months. (You're invited to join. It's fr**.)
I rummaged in the closet and found an old Verdi VD, bought some Puccini CDs and my sister sent me her used Teaching Company's tape course , "Understanding Opera" with Dr. Robert Greenberg, which is go helpful, I started a second-hand tape store on my website.
4. Italian opera is a good place to start, with Verdi. His work is simple and clear, expresses eternal themes, and has incredible energy. The darling of his nation, and then the world, the man was indomitable. He lost his wife and two babies in the span of a couple of months when he was in his late 20s, and then lived during the Austrian occupation of his homeland.
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