# Recommend me some opera **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719 "2006-10-17T01:33:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/1 "2006-10-17T01:33:23Z")
Hi, all. I’ve decided to get myself a bit of class - not too much, mind you, but a bit. As part of the Mr. Excellent Classification Program, I’ve decided to get into opera. Anyone have any good recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/2 "2006-10-17T01:45:33Z")
I did that too, a couple years ago. It didn’t stick, but I do like the bits of opera I got to know. I’d recommend Mozart – either The Magic Flute or The Marriage of Figaro have lots of good tunes. If you speak a little German or Italian, it greatly helps – always nice to at least sort of know what everyone’s talking about. Alternatively, there’s always Porgy and Bess – English language, jazzy, really good. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/3 "2006-10-17T01:55:17Z")
I recommend these threads: [The Essential Music Library: Opera/Choral music](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=343551) [Opinin’ on Opera](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=322570) [Opera 101](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=318920) [Do you like opera?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=301188) ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/4 "2006-10-17T05:52:21Z")
My first opera was Carmen. It’s got a good plot, lively music, and a catchy aria. The Magic Flute also. Silly plot. LUSCIOUS music. The Queen of the Night’s aria makes my soul tingle. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Rosewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mr.Rosewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Rosewater)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/5 "2006-10-17T06:00:12Z")
My first opera was Wagner’s Das Rheingold, and the second through fourth were the rest of the ring series. Instantly made me into a ringhead. I recommend starting like this if you enjoy jumping in at the deep end. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/6 "2006-10-17T07:03:57Z")
Carmen is a good bet because you will recognize the melodies, especially you Gilligan fans. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/7 "2006-10-17T07:09:46Z")
All good suggestions. Tosca is very accessible, I think. Or the two shortish operas, usually performed together on the same bill: Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/8 "2006-10-17T08:02:38Z")
Just go. Washington National Opera is doing Madama Butterfly in early November. You might like it, you might not. Same as, well, pretty much anything. You can get what look like pretty reasonable seats for $70-ish (Do not sit in the rear orchestra - you’ll want to see the supra-titles). There may also be discounts if you’re eligible. See their [website](http://www.dc-opera.org/) for details. [Virginia Opera](http://www.vaopera.org) is doing Carmen this weekend in Richmond. Their site is too annoying to find out what tickets cost, but you could call them in the morning and find out. Give it a chance - see what happens. Overthink it after your first impression. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/9 "2006-10-17T09:52:57Z")
HMS Pinafore. …as performed by Sideshow Bob ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/10 "2006-10-17T10:46:27Z")
Another vote for _The Marriage of Figaro_. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/11 "2006-10-17T14:12:27Z")
Rigoletto has plenty of good tunes and a better than average plot. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/12 "2006-10-17T15:33:58Z")
I’d recommend “La Boheme.” It was my first opera, and it remains one of my favorites. It’s very accessible to the first-timer. Stick with the great composers: Puccini, Verdi, Mozart, Rossini, etc. Opera companies like to promote later operas by lesser composers, but they can really, really suck. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/13 "2006-10-17T15:43:07Z")
“La Boheme” and “La Traviata” are probably the two most accessible. I am a complete Verdi fangirl, so I’d recommend “La Traviata.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/14 "2006-10-17T15:48:01Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] “La Boheme” and “La Traviata” are probably the two most accessible. I am a complete Verdi fangirl, so I’d recommend “La Traviata.” [/QUOTE] Phht. Traviata. Go for Otello. NASA has measured it, using the instruments with the tightest tolerances, to be the best opera ever. 13.749% better than La Traviata. I’d like to tell you the best parts, but there are none. It shines throughout. So I won’t even mention Iago’s Act II aria or Desdemona’s Ave Maria. However, if you want something light and fun, nothing beats G&S’s Trial by Jury is a blast. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/15 "2006-10-17T15:52:00Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] “La Boheme” and “La Traviata” are probably the two most accessible. I am a complete Verdi fangirl, so I’d recommend “La Traviata.” [/QUOTE] Phht. Traviata. Go for Otello. NASA has measured it, using the instruments with the tightest tolerances, to be the best opera ever. 13.749% better than La Traviata. I’d like to tell you the best parts, but there are none. It shines throughout. So I won’t even mention Iago’s Act II aria or Desdemona’s Ave Maria. However, if you want something light and fun, nothing beats G&S’s Trial by Jury. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/16 "2006-10-17T15:53:26Z")
I love it when board malfunctions force me to double post. I will, however, take this opportunity to recommend Otello. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/17 "2006-10-17T16:12:44Z")
I’ll repeat the recommendation: start with Mozart and Puccini. Actually, start with Puccini and _Magic Flute_–some of the recitatives in the other big Mozart operas can be a little offputting (read: boring) to the uninitiated. All respect to **Mr. Rosewater** , I would avoid Wagner for now. Don’t get me wrong, I love Wagner (seen the Ring twice at the Met), but it takes some slow immersion therapy to get into. Oh, and Otello. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/18 "2006-10-17T16:54:13Z")
_The Barber of Seville_ – an opera that’s actually light and funny, so a good place to start. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/19 "2006-10-17T17:07:40Z")
Personally, I don’t really care for light and funny opera (Except G&S). I like the dark and thick stuff. Probably comes from my days of loving Led Zep and Blacj Sabbath and Pink Floyd. At 17 I started with small amounts of Wagner (Die Walkier) and had no problem absorbing it. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719/20 "2006-10-17T17:08:51Z")
The realm of opera is almost as varied as rock ‘n’ roll. On the lighter side you have comic operas from Mozart, Offenbach, Strauss, and Gilbert & Sullivan. The music is delicate and pretty, the plots are pure cotton candy, and there’s more emphasis on fun than edification. As Tom Lehrer put it (specifically referring to G&S)"…full of words and music and signifying NOTHING." Italian opera is generally a bit heavier in tone, and it’s hard to go wrong with Verdi or Puccini. Plots are typical and formulaic, appealing to the Italian passion for…well, _passion_: in a nutshell, tenor studmuffin dumps frumpy alto girlfriend and steals hot soprano chick from the nice guy baritone, only to find that she’s been stabbed by the villanous bass due to some contrived misunderstanding. The music alternates between magnificent choruses, soaring love songs, wild parties, and the tragic hero shaking his fist at the heartless fates. The audience laughs, cries, and goes home happy. Wagner is pretty much the heavy metal of opera – long and loud. It’s so long and loud, in fact, that a soloist who intends to perform in Wagnerian opera and _actually be heard over the orchestra_ (without destroying his or her voice) has to take years of special vocal training (I am not making this up). Everything is jacked up to 11 on a scale of 1 to 5. The characters are not mere humans but gods and heros and archtypes. The tragedy is \*_that much more_ tragic. The comedy is…well, forget it, because there isn’t any. A Wagnerian score is a rollercoaster ride through the most extreme emotions of the human heart – profound darkness, unbearable tension, sweeping grandure – as over-the-top as one can possibly get. And that’s just Act I. I likes me some opera. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-opera/376719.md?page=2)