# Your Favorite Opera? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 7, 2001, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865 "2001-10-07T01:45:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/1 "2001-10-07T01:45:16Z")
Mine would have to be **Madame Butterfly**. A co-worker told me she went to see **Phantom of the…** recently saying, “You know, Bill, I never thought I would like opera, but I really _liked_ that one!” I had to smile. My cat’s favorite opera is **De_flate_-A-Mouse**. 😉 Kidding. I heard **Die Fledermaus (The Bat)** today on NPR, and thought it was funny hearing it done in the Bavarian accent. I just finished a vaction in the Bavarian town of **Rothenburg of der Tauber** and the Bavarian accents brought back fond memories. So what’s **your** favorite? Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/2 "2001-10-07T01:49:47Z")
…not **of** der Tauber. Overzealous fingers! Q ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/3 "2001-10-07T02:59:39Z")
I guess I’ve never made time to listen to much opera, though I do enjoy classical music. Really, the only operas I’ve been to are Carmen and Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) and of the two, I liked Mozart the best. No wait … in college I saw a short opera entitled The Face on the Barroom Floor. It was in English and set in the wild, wild west, I think. Anyone know anything about it? ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/4 "2001-10-07T03:05:33Z")
Oh, I had to answer my own question. I found this about it – \*The Face on the Barroom Floor Music by Henry Mollicone; Libretto by John S. Bowman This mini-opera opens in Central City, Colorado as Isabelle, a young opera singer and her beau, Larry, meet at the Teller House Bar for a drink before an upcoming rehearsal. The two are struck both by the Old West atmosphere of the tavern, and by the face of a beautiful woman painted on the old, wooden floor. When Isabelle looks up, she is shocked to see that a former lover, Tom, is the bartender, but says nothing about her history with this man to her current flame. When Larry asks Tom about the significance of the face on the floor, the three characters are transported back to the late nineteenth century and to the Old West boom town Central City once was. Past love, passion and untimely death spin from the past into the present as the tale of the Face on the Barroom Floor unfolds. \* I remember liking it because it had familiar American themes. Though opera is universal, it’s often hard for the average person to get past the foreign language. ---
**Author:** ![Peregrine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a6a055/32.png) [@Peregrine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peregrine)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/5 "2001-10-07T04:12:13Z")
Puccini’s _Tosca_ has been my favorite since I first saw it on TV in the mid-seventies. I really enjoy watching Floria stick it to the evil Scarpia, even though she doesn’t get away with it. And the music is grand. I get spine tingles at the finale. I’ve also taken a liking to _The Ring_ cycle. The whole leitmotif thing just facinates me. For comedies, I like _The Barber of Seville_ and _The Marriage of Figaro_. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/6 "2001-10-07T04:18:48Z")
I have been to a grand total of two operas in my life: _Porgy and Bess_ and _Lohengrin_. I enjoyed both, but I actually enjoyed the latter more, even though its subject matter was far less accessible than the former. But I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Wagner’s music. And it didn’t seem long despite it being a four-hour long performance. ---
**Author:** ![Revedge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecae2f/32.png) [@Revedge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revedge)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/7 "2001-10-07T07:07:11Z")
“The Marriage of Figaro” and “Falstaff” are my two favorite comic operas. But, I think that “The Consul” has to be my favorite tragedy. (Even though, God forbid, it is written in English) There is a quartet in the middle of it that is absolutly wonderful. I also have a thing for the Ring Cycle. Somewhere I still have the tapes I made of the Mets’ version that was on PBS. Of course if you have notice my sig, you know what another of my favorites is. ---
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/8 "2001-10-07T07:10:17Z")
My favorite is Die Walkure. I saw the spectacular production of San Francisco Opera’s 1985 “Der Ring Des Niebelungen”,and I can say that it was everything it was cracked up to be.The atmosphere was electric.When the curtain fell on act two the audience sprang to their feet and roared their approval. James Morris was singing Wotan for the first two operas,and he was absolutely without question the best "Walkure Wotan"I have ever heard.\* My best recollection of the “Walkure” cast follows: Siegmund:Peter Hoffman Sieglinde:Janinne Altmeyer (sp) Hunding:John Tomlinson (IIRC) Wotan:James Morris Brunnhilde:Gwyneth Jones Fricka:Helga Dernesch I can’t begin to remember all the Valkyries,but LuAnn DeVol was one \*I’ve heard a lot! ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/9 "2001-10-07T09:00:35Z")
Wagners Ring der Nibelungen, definitely. Puccinis best works come second (especially Tosca and La Boheme). Other operas that I particularly liked are Death in Venice (Britten), Pelleas et Melisande (Debussy) and Salome (R Strauss). Verdi and Mozart are overrated as opera composers imho. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/10 "2001-10-07T22:19:20Z")
Alas, I can’t normally afford live opera, so everything I’ve seen, I’ve seen on PBS. Based on that, I really grooved on “The Rake’s Progress.” Cool. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/11 "2001-10-07T22:45:03Z")
I don’t have a favorite, I have a list. The Ring Cycle Die Fledermaus Aida Marriage of Figaro Barber of Seville Carmen ---
**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:** [October 8, 2001, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/12 "2001-10-08T02:39:57Z")
Rigoletto. Not only the best-known opera aria (La Donne e Mobile), but a great story. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/13 "2001-10-08T03:17:46Z")
I am somewhat of a philistine with respect to opera. Still, there is no doubt about my favorite opera. That would be: **Billy Budd** by _Benjamin Britten_. I loved everything about it - the music, the storyline, the underlying morality play, and, in the version I attended, the maginficent set. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/14 "2001-10-08T07:40:27Z")
I am not too knowledgable about opera, but I loved the Ring Cycle (I saw the same version you did, Forbin! Ah, that Peter Hoffman!) I also LOVE “The Magic Flute”, particularly Igmar Bergman’s version. (Have that on tape.) Just love love love it. ---
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/15 "2001-10-08T07:41:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGauss \* > \*\ ***Billy Budd** by _Benjamin Britten_. I loved everything about it - the music, the storyline, the underlying morality play, and, in the version I attended, the maginficent set. \*\* I saw Billy Budd quite by accident. Outside the San Francisco Opera I bought tickets from a scalper once.Two tickets for “Un Ballo in Maschera”.Or so I thought.The scalper knew that was what I wanted,so he held them in such a way as to hide one behind the other,took my money,and left quickly. When I found out that I had one ticket to "Ballo"and one to “Billy Budd”,I was chagrined.Can’t take a date to the one I really wanted to see and also now I have to see a modern opera. “Billy Budd” was excellent.It is a taut drama.I was spellbound.Luckily(once again)the role of Claggart,the villian,was sung by James Morris. "Ballo"couldn’t have been worse.I won’t name the very famous tenor who sang the lead,out of respect for his long and illustrious career,but this production was literally dead on arrival.Awfull! This was many years ago.That season I attended most of the productions of SFO,and had good seats all the time.It helped me to develop a perspective on the level of performances to see so many in such a short period of time.These days I haven’t seen many at all.I don’t even know any of the new crop of singers at all. I do however have a new way of seeing operas that I greatly prefer to my old “get great seats” philosophy. _Fisher Queen take note_ Standing room only!This is a great way to see opera,and it’s cheap too!The time spent standing in the opera house(at SFO at least)is a thousand times more comfortable than in one of their "Spanish Inquisition"seats.I am easily tall enough to see over anybody’s head though,so this may not work for you.Other favorites,by the way,include: Rigoletto Aida Der Fliegende Hollander La Traviata(hey!I SANG in that one once!Yaaaay!) Sampson et Dahlila ---
**Author:** ![blur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dbc845/32.png) [@blur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blur)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/16 "2001-10-08T09:30:46Z")
I was never too into opera, but I did see La Boheme when it was touring a few years ago. I liked it much more than I thought I would. I guess that is my favorite by default, since I’ve never seen another one. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/17 "2001-10-08T12:00:55Z")
French: **Les Contes d’Hoffmann** (Offenbach) **Carmen** (Bizet) German: **Die Zauberfloete** (Mozart) **Der Meistersinger von Nurmburg** (Wagner) **Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny** (Weill) Italian: **Otello** (Verdi) English: **The Beggar’s Opera** (Gay) ---
**Author:** ![Osakadave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f07891/32.png) [@Osakadave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osakadave)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/18 "2001-10-08T12:22:14Z")
Madame Butterfly. There’s a wonderful memorial in Nagasaki. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/19 "2001-10-08T17:42:18Z")
Karol Szymanowski’s _King Roger_ (1926). It has a rather incoherent libretto concerning the 12th century Sicilian monarch and his indecision about whether to follow the dictates of Apollo or Dionysus, but the music is spooky and shimmery and bathed in moonglow all at once. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865/20 "2001-10-08T18:14:17Z")
Verdi overrated as an operatic composer? Bah. Chalk up another lover of the Ring Cycle. I’d also second _Rigoletto_. And Mozart is at the peak of his talent with _Don Giovanni_. I also love Smetana’s _Dalibor_, and Alban Berg’s _Wozzeck_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-opera/85865.md?page=2)