# What piece would you recommend as a 'starter opera' for a newcomer to Opera? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 1, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926 "2009-03-01T22:28:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bamboo\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@Bamboo\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bamboo_Boy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/1 "2009-03-01T22:28:24Z")
I suppose the title says it all. I might add though that this is not for me, this is a running discussion I have with another musician friend of mine. He insists something like Puccini would be best, probably La Boheme or Madame Butterfly. I, on the other hand, thing that something like Strauss Elektra would be an ideal starter opera, which sounds insane at first. But I think the sensationalism, the graphic music, the fast pace where they don’t get stuck on one line for minutes, the brevity of the piece make it better than something like Puccini for a new-comer. Salome would probably also fit the bill for all the same reasons. If pushed for a second place, I would go all the way back to Mozart Marriage of Figaro. It’s basically a Three’s Company episode with ravishingly beautiful and life affirming music- it makes you laugh out loud, breaks your heart, and reaffirms your humanity. So that’s a huge plus. It’s super long though, which might be too much for a first-timer. I’m a musician and I have a lot of friends who would like to “get into opera” and ask me what they should try first. I don’t want to steer them in the wrong direction, and would like to hear input from others who know the basic repertoire. Sorry if this has been done before, I looked around and didn’t see anything like this. -BB ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/2 "2009-03-01T22:32:40Z")
Does rock opera count? I’m a huge fan of _Jesus Christ Superstar_. ---
**Author:** ![Bamboo\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@Bamboo\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bamboo_Boy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/3 "2009-03-01T22:47:13Z")
no, sorry, it doesn’t. I mean something that is in the general international repertoire. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/4 "2009-03-01T23:32:45Z")
I’ve pointed people towards _Peter Grimes_ in the past, and would do so again in similar situations. There’s no language barrier, for one, that complication can wait for the future.\* It’s simply wonderful music, whether in the huge chorus sounds, intense solos or the exquisitely-evocative orchestral interludes. Most importantly, it’s a cracking story, complex and well-told, and without getting tangled up with a whole load of mythology! \*Yes, of course, there’s the option to listen to works in English translation, and this has much to offer. Far better for a newcomer, however, to be able to fully immerse themselves into something exactly as it was intended and to be able to appreciate it that way. ---
**Author:** ![Bamboo\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@Bamboo\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bamboo_Boy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/5 "2009-03-01T23:44:39Z")
Agreed on the English translation point. I never saw the point of that, really. Peter Grimes is one of my absolute favorite works and is always a shattering, mentally exhausting experience. One synopsis of it I recall said something to the effect of “society brings a man to his knees and crushes him”. I just think the psychological aspect of the drama might be a tough nut to crack. That’s an interesting suggestion, and I bet my friend would approve of it more than my bid for Strauss. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/6 "2009-03-02T00:06:21Z")
If your friend has an appreciation for humor, one can always ease into the opera genre with one of the light-hearted oeuvres, for example, Die Fledermaus, or Barber of Seville. I saw a production of Fledermaus with Dom DeLuise as the jailer in Act III; he damn near brought the house down. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/7 "2009-03-02T00:15:10Z")
I would say Rigoletto. Quite a plot and full of great tunes. La Boheme is probably the best Puccini… Madama Butterfly can be tedious if you are not into Soprano laments. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/8 "2009-03-02T00:45:25Z")
**Rigoletto** is my favorite, so I’d also recommend that. It doesn’t have to be in translation, but supertitles are a must for a beginner. ---
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/9 "2009-03-02T00:52:24Z")
_Tristan and Isolde_ was what got me into opera. To be fair though, I already loved Wagner’s classical stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/10 "2009-03-02T02:00:31Z")
Perhaps the ‘Heavenly Twins’: [Cavalleria rusticana](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalleria_rusticana) and [Pagliacci](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagliacci). All the usual love/betrayal/revenge/death motifs as well as some recognisable music. Best of all, neither goes for more than about 90 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/11 "2009-03-02T03:37:36Z")
Another vote for _La Boheme_. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/12 "2009-03-02T04:12:45Z")
I just saw _The Marriage of Figaro_ performed by a small, local Opera company and it was wonderful. I think it would be a great first Opera. The first Opera I myself saw that really made me interested was _Aida_, so that would be another good choice. Ed ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/13 "2009-03-02T07:10:16Z")
I’d go with either \*\*Rigoletto \*\*or **Carmen**. They’re both very accessible, lots of hit tunes and interesting plots. Possible \*\*La Boheme \*\*or **Aida**. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/14 "2009-03-02T16:20:02Z")
My first opera was _The Merry Widow_, with a post-retirement Joan Sutherland playing the title role. Meh. Nice, but no big deal. A few months later I saw _Prince Igor_, which absolutely blew me away. From the moment the overture started I was completely hooked. My girlfriend, who had apologized to me in advance in case she fell asleep (because classical music and opera were not “her thing”) was so captivated that she dashed out the next day and bought a 3-CD recording of the opera that must have cost a good $60-75. It’s not performed too terribly often though, which may very well eliminate it from consideration as a “starter opera.” ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/15 "2009-03-02T16:29:49Z")
_Carmen_ hooked me as a kid, for some of the reasons **panache45** gives. Also, if you sing at all, you can probably sing at least part of one of its well-known arias – and mezzos get the best parts, very unusually. Also: it’s in French, and relatively simple French at that, and I think many more English speakers can get by in French than in Italian. And, um, also: most of the main characters are accessible, in that they’re multidimensional and worried about common concerns; the soul-sustaining music starts from a place where most people have been at one time or another. Oh, and Carmen is smokin’ hot. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/16 "2009-03-02T16:41:54Z")
_Das Rheingold._ Wotan and Loge messing with Albreich is cool. The motivations of the characters are understood and easy to follow. And, no arias! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/17 "2009-03-02T17:05:19Z")
We went to La Bohème last year, shown through the Met’s HD live performances and really enjoyed it. Neither Mrs Piper nor I had ever been to an opera before. We’re going this weekend to Madam Butterfly - Mrs. Piper’s birthday present, having enjoyed La Bohème so much last year. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/18 "2009-03-02T17:56:05Z")
Is Gilbert and Sullivan allowed? Something like The Pirates of Penzance might fit the bill - not too long, funny, easily understood plot and the best thing is that it’s sung in English. If your friends are redneck hillbillies, then I’d recommend [The Cunning Little Vixen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cunning_Little_Vixen). Why? Boobies!! ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/19 "2009-03-02T18:36:02Z")
Another vote for **Carmen**. Understandable plot, which is helpful, and most people will recognize several of the tunes even if they can’t place them. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926/20 "2009-03-02T19:33:32Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > We went to La Bohème last year, shown through the Met’s HD live performances and really enjoyed it. Neither Mrs Piper nor I had ever been to an opera before. > > We’re going this weekend to Madam Butterfly - Mrs. Piper’s birthday present, having enjoyed La Bohème so much last year. We are also going to the Met’s HD live performance of Madame Butterfly this weekend at the local movie theater. It’s a great introduction to opera for very cheap, IMHO. This will be our third time going. Ed [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-piece-would-you-recommend-as-a-starter-opera-for-a-newcomer-to-opera/487926.md?page=2)