Opera

Livvie

Executive Manager being kept sane only by her madn
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Just when you thought you were safe from another music thread.

I don't like opera. I don't think I could ever go to one and sit there listening to it. But I have to say, there are some operatic songs/tunes that I find really emotive.

I cried listening to Paul Potts singing Nessun Dorma in his first audition, although that was a combination of the song and the fact that he looked like he was going to be crap, and then came out with this fantastic voice.

Then earlier I was listening to Phantom, and some of those songs are more than a bit stirring - like All I Ask of You and Music of the Night.

And anyone who has seen Godfather 3 - or countless tv ads. - would recognise the Intermezzo from Cavalera Rusticana. Gorgeous piece of music. (Don't know if this counts as opera as there's no vocals? But whatever, it's lovely).
 
Opera is an excellent form of music

It is extremely hard and if you master it you probably have the talent to sing many of the mainstream songs that are out there

I don't know how the Nessun Dorma bored you, but I find it excellent. Listen to the Ave Maria. It's so beautiful and sweet.
 
Has been a very musical day today.

Can't stand Opera though, so I guess I am not needed here :(
 
CounterStrike said:
Opera is an excellent form of music

It is extremely hard and if you master it you probably have the talent to sing many of the mainstream songs that are out there

I don't know how the Nessun Dorma bored you,
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I never said it bored me!

Weaste, you're right of course about Phantom being a musical. What kind of label would you give the music though? It's kind of operatic as most of it is sung by a soprano and a tenor.
 
Hectic said:
It made you cry Livvie?

Must have been very strong.
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I do like stuff that has a strong tune, and then you get a big finale type thing.

Did you like the way I worded that? I should be doing reviews. :)

I do know what people mean about certain singing making the hairs on your neck and arms stand on end.
 
Livvie said:
I do like stuff that has a strong tune, and then you get a big finale type thing.

Did you like the way I worded that? I should be doing reviews. :)

I do know what people mean about certain singing making the hairs on your neck and arms stand on end.
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Yes, it was...beautiful.

I get like that with Hip-Hop.

Songs that have an old funk/hip-hop feel to it with quality lyrics can do similar things to me. Maybe not cry, but put me in a place where nothing else can.

I can just sit there with a song on repeat for hours and hours and just be in total peace.
 
It's in my blood, I'm afraid, on account of both parents being musicians.

Spent countless nights as a nipper in the pit behind the double basses. If I would drift off, mum would tuck me up in the first violinist's dressing room which had a tannoy type thing so I could still hear the orchestra.

Good times, good times.
 
Livvie said:
Just when you thought you were safe from another music thread.

I don't like opera. I don't think I could ever go to one and sit there listening to it. But I have to say, there are some operatic songs/tunes that I find really emotive.

I cried listening to Paul Potts singing Nessun Dorma in his first audition, although that was a combination of the song and the fact that he looked like he was going to be crap, and then came out with this fantastic voice.

Then earlier I was listening to Phantom, and some of those songs are more than a bit stirring - like All I Ask of You and Music of the Night.

And anyone who has seen Godfather 3 - or countless tv ads. - would recognise the Intermezzo from Cavalera Rusticana. Gorgeous piece of music. (Don't know if this counts as opera as there's no vocals? But whatever, it's lovely).
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'Cavalleria Rusticana' and 'Nessun Dorma' are amongst my favourite pieces of music. There are many fantastic, emotive opera pieces that I think everyone could appreciate. Unfortunately, I have never been to an opera but I will make sure to do so in the near future. I doubt that I would be able to understand an opera but I would certainly be able to appreciate the music.

I think that ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ is regarded as opera music despite the absence of vocals. As far as I am aware, opera is defined as a ‘musical stage drama originating in Italy during the 1600s.’ This definition is a little vague but it does not state that voice is a fundamental constituent of opera. I think that opera composers liked to use singing because the human voice and lyrics help in trying to convey a character’s emotions and thus we associate opera music with vocals.

Again, I could be mistaken but I think ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ falls into the category of music known as cavatina, a short song-like instrumental movement. Perhaps, the piece was originally used as an interlude in the opera rather than one of the main pieces of music.

According to wikipedia, ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ is an example of music from the verismo movement. I do not fully understand what the term means but apparently music from the verismo movement is intended to reflect intense emotions of working class characters in a play/opera about contemporary, daily life.

Sorry if all of this information is unnecessary but you asked a good question and I wanted to answer it. Is there anybody here with enough knowledge about opera that could enlighten me on this matter? What is the term used to describe opera music without vocals?
 
Moz said:
I think that ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ is regarded as opera music despite the absence of vocals. As far as I am aware, opera is defined as a ‘musical stage drama originating in Italy during the 1600s.’ This definition is a little vague but it does not state that voice is a fundamental constituent of opera. I think that opera composers liked to use singing because the human voice and lyrics help in trying to convey a character’s emotions and thus we associate opera music with vocals.
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Just to put you right here, Cavalleria Rusticana is a one-act opera where people sing. However, as in all operas there are some non-vocal pieces e.g. Overture, Preludes and in this case an Intermezzo. The unfortunate thing for Mascagni (the composer) is that the Intermezzo is the most famous piece form the opera and just about the only bit now routinely played.

I would qualify that last bit with the fact that it is, I believe, sometimes still performed as a whole with "I Pagliacci" another one-act opera. This was at one time so commonly combined that it was referred to, a little bit snootily, by the performers as "Cav 'n' Pag"
 
GiggsysGirl said:
How can anyone not like Singing in the Rain?

or West Side Story?
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As I said, it's the same with Opera. Certain "movements" have "high" musical merit, but stick it on a stage with the rest of it it becomes rather pointless to my taste, a bit like ballet. Then again, I'd quite happily sit watching a full symphony orchestra play an entire symphony with very little visual effect.

I've always wondered about this, but the conclusion is that Opera and Ballet is normally a second rate musical work mixed with either acting or dancing to get a bit of life out of it. I prefer the pure music, and I'll take some movements from a ballet or an opera and listen to and enjoy them, but I don't want to sit in front of the whole bloody thing for two hours.
 
green demon said:
Just to put you right here, Cavalleria Rusticana is a one-act opera where people sing. However, as in all operas there are some non-vocal pieces e.g. Overture, Preludes and in this case an Intermezzo. The unfortunate thing for Mascagni (the composer) is that the Intermezzo is the most famous piece form the opera and just about the only bit now routinely played.

I would qualify that last bit with the fact that it is, I believe, sometimes still performed as a whole with "I Pagliacci" another one-act opera. This was at one time so commonly combined that it was referred to, a little bit snootily, by the performers as "Cav 'n' Pag"
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Cool. Thanks for that. I guess its true that you learn something new everyday! Do you know a lot about opera? I would like to learn more so can you recommend any websites or books about opera? I ran a Google search but I did not really find anything that is comprehensive and easily understandable.
 
I love musicals. I haven't seen too many operas, though; the soprano voice grates on my ears. I think I watched La Boheme on television (it was on public broadcasting ... Live from Lincoln Center, or some such.) Loved that. Maybe because I'd seen Rent?
 
Moz said:
Cool. Thanks for that. I guess its true that you learn something new everyday! Do you know a lot about opera? I would like to learn more so can you recommend any websites or books about opera? I ran a Google search but I did not really find anything that is comprehensive and easily understandable.
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I'm no expert but I listen to all sorts of music, from Opera, Symphonies, Ballet Music through to Jazz, Blues, Rock, Punk, Indie and a lot more beside. I try to avoid Country & Western, Rap, Hip Hop although I can even find merit occasionally with odd pieces of them too.

As far as Opera goes, I listen a lot to Wagner, and watch his works on television. (I've rarely been to a full opera live.) There's a lot of Wagner (the majority probably) that is very heavy but his masterpieces can sometimes make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and more than make up for the boring bits. He, however, was an absolute shit of a man who expounded poorly thought out but vitriolic anti-semitic sentiment, and believd that everybody else was put on Earth to cater to his personal whims. His trouble was that he, correctly, knew he was a genius and wouldn't let anyone else forget it. He could depict grandeur, fear, strength, and above all passion in his music. In fact: the Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde is as good a depiction as a sexual climax in classical music as I know of. One of my other favourite pieces of his is Siegfried's Death March. This is full of loud percussion and drawn out agonies, and was used to brilliant effect in Boorman's film Excalibur. The bits that aren't from Carmina Burana of course.

The other end of the scale is the delightful, witty and ultimately elegant operas from Johann Strauss. The best of his is, undoubtedly, Die Fledermaus. They are all very light and generally consist of people scheming but everything coming right again at the end, in true farce fashion. Fledermaus is full of beautiful tunes, and if done right; sprinkled with surprises. There is more talking than in the Grand Operas of Wagner and Verdi etc., but can be truly wonderful.

Even lighter are the total farces of Offenbach, such as Orpheus in the Underworld. This often has topical jokes in the best pantomime tradition but then bursts with something rousing like the Infernal Gallop (also known as the Can-Can). The very personable Offenbach was quite a good friend to Strauss, although Wagner admired Strauss too.

I could list the major Opera composers if you wish (e.g. Mozart, Puccini, Rossini etc.) but I typed into Google: "Wikipedia Opera" which gives quite a lot of information with useful links for you to further explore.

I hope this wasn't too long winded, because although I'm no expert I do like quite a few Operatic arias and it can get me quite excited (in a nice way of course ...:nervous:) if done well.
 
:lol: Similarly, I don't like cricket, ah, oh no.

I find it quite dull, with too much waiting around.
 
Like many, I like certain pieces of opera. I went to watch La Traviata last year and was pretty much bored all the way through apart from the one song I knew and the drinks intermission.
 
The Speaker said:
I've always wondered about this, but the conclusion is that Opera and Ballet is normally a second rate musical work mixed with either acting or dancing to get a bit of life out of it. I prefer the pure music, and I'll take some movements from a ballet or an opera and listen to and enjoy them, but I don't want to sit in front of the whole bloody thing for two hours.
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I think that's a rather shallow view. The human voice (opera) is an instrument of its own and cannot be produced by a musical instrument hence, it's a product of its own. Again, ballet introduces another type of sense, which is vision. It's a different product altogether. You'll appreciate Swan Lake more if you saw it. A bit like salt & pepper if you like.

However, I respect your preference.
 
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