How to Begin Opera Music Appreciation
Contents
A beginner’s guide to enjoying opera music. Find out what opera is, get tips on where to start, and discover the beauty of this art form.
Introduction
Opera is a very special and unique form of musical theater. It is usually sung in a foreign language with orchestra accompaniment and features highly skilled singers. While it has been around for centuries, many people today still find opera daunting and difficult to appreciate.
If you’re new to opera, the best way to start is by choosing an opera that you think you will enjoy. There are many different styles of opera, so there is sure to be one that suits your taste. If you’re not sure where to start, ask your local librarian or music store clerk for suggestions.
Once you’ve chosen an opera, try to listen to it several times before you see it performed live. This will help you become familiar with the story and the music. If possible, read a synopsis of the plot beforehand so that you know what to listen for.
When you’re ready to see an opera live, try to get tickets for seats that are close to the stage. This will give you a better view of the singers’ facial expressions and body language, which can be just as important as the singing itself.
Finally, don’t be afraid to clap after each aria (solo song). Operas are usually very long, and applause is a way of showing your appreciation for the performers’ hard work.
Where to start
It can be intimating trying to understand an art form that you are not familiar with. You may be thinking, where do I start? There is so much history, so many different types, and so many ways to enjoy it. Do not fret! This guide will introduce you to the wonderful world of opera and tell you everything you need to get started on your opera music appreciation journey.
With the greats
We would recommended to start with some of the music of the great masters of opera. Opera as an art form began in the 1600s in Italy with a style called “bel canto” (beautiful singing). Bel canto operas were characterized by long, complex, and often difficult vocal lines. The three greatest composers of bel canto operas were Giovanni Battista Lulli (better known as Jean-Baptiste Lully), Alessandro Stradella, and Francesco Cavalli. Surprisingly, none of them was Italian! Lully was French, Stradella was from Naples, and Cavalli was from Venice.
With contemporary opera
If you want to get into opera, but have no idea where to start, look no further. Here are four reasons why you should begin your opera appreciation journey with contemporary opera.
1. contemporary opera is more accessible
While some may feel that contemporary opera is crass or too loud, the fact is that it is more accessible than ever before. With technology, operas can now be streamed or downloaded so you can listen to them at your convenience. In addition, there are plenty of websites and apps that provide translations of key arias and scenes so you can follow along as you listen.
2. There are plenty of options to choose from
Whether you’re looking for a tragic love story, a comedic romp, or an exploration of social issues, there’s sure to be a contemporary opera that piques your interest. And with more and more composers experimenting with the genre, the number of new operas being written each year is only increasing.
3. Contemporary opera can be more relevant
While classical operas often deal with timeless themes of love and death, contemporary operas have the unique ability to address issues that are relevant to our lives today. From global warming to political corruption, these newer works offer afresh perspective on the world around us.
4. The music is often more experimental
If you’re a fan of classical music but find yourself getting bored with the same old melodies, then contemporary opera may be just what you need. Many modern composers are pushing the boundaries of what constitutes “opera music”, incorporating elements of jazz, rock, pop, and even electronic music into their works. This makes for a much more varied and interesting listening experience.
How to listen
To appreciate opera, one must begin by listening. The music of opera is complex, and often several things are going on simultaneously. The story is told through the music, the singing, and the acting. To understand what is happening, it is best to listen to a recording of an opera with the libretto, or libretto and score.
Withscore in hand
Withscore in hand, the fun really begins. Letting the music wash over you, following along with the rise and fall of the melody, and letting your imagination loose to create the characters and scene in your mind — this is what listening to opera is all about.
And there’s no need to wait for a live performance to experience it. Technology has made it easier than ever to listen to opera anytime, anywhere. You can find streaming audio of performances online, or download recordings of your favorite operas to your computer or mobile device. You can even find versions with English subtitles, so you can follow along as you listen.
Some people like to read along with the libretto (the opera’s text) as they listen. Others just close their eyes and let the music take them away. There are no wrong ways to enjoy opera — just dive in and see what works for you!
Without a score
One way to begin your appreciation of opera is simply to listen to it. You don’t necessarily need a score or any other type of background information. Just sit back and enjoy the music.
If you want to deepen your understanding, however, you will eventually need to know at least a little bit about the music itself. Music appreciation is not just about listening; it’s also about understanding what you’re hearing. And that means learning at least a little bit about the element of music.
What to listen for
Opera is a unique musical experience. It is comprised of music, lyrics, and drama, with the understanding that the music will further the drama, not the other way around as is so often the case in musical theater. Unlike a play, which is scripted and the actors merely recite their lines, in opera the actors also sing their lines. The story is carried by the music as much as by the lyrics.
The music
One of the things that you’ll want to notice about opera compared to other pieces of music is the way that the singers use their voices. They will sing very differently from the way that people speak, and this can take some getting used to. They will often move between speaking and singing, and this can be quite effective in telling the story. You’ll also notice that there are often long periods of music without any singing, and this can be used to create a mood or atmosphere.
The libretto
Opera is a dramatic form of musical theatre in which the stories are usually about love, death or other emotionally intense topics. They are usually sung in a foreign language, with supertitles projected above the stage to help audiences follow along.
The word “opera” comes from the Italian word for “work,” and indeed, opera is a collaboration between many different artists. In addition to the composer, there are usually a librettist (who writes the story), singers, conductors, directors, designers and technicians.
Operas can be very long, sometimes lasting several hours. They are usually divided into two parts, with a brief intermission in between. During the intermission, audiences often chat about what they have seen so far and make predictions about what will happen in the second half.
The libretto is the text of an opera. It is usually written in verse form and set to music by the composer. The librettist often works closely with the composer to ensure that the story can be effectively told through music.
Most operas are based on stories from history, mythology or literature. Some of the most popular operas include “Carmen,” “The Barber of Seville,” “La Bohème” and “The Marriage of Figaro.”
The staging
Now that we have a parking space, we can enter the garage and take our seats. The introductory music has already begun to play, so let’s pay attention to that while we walk in.
As we walk in,we will notice that the stage is set up very differently from a play. It is very wide and deep, and there are three levels: the main stage in front, called the orchestra pit; the boxes on either side of the main stage; and the balcony at the back.
There are two types of seating in an opera house: general admission and assigned seating. In general admission, you can sit anywhere you want except in the boxes, which are reserved for special guests. In assigned seating, your ticket will have your seat number on it, and you must sit in that seat.
Let’s find our seats and get settled. The music is still playing, and we want to be able to listen to it properly.
Conclusion
Opera can be an acquired taste, but one that is definitely worth acquiring. With its combination of music, drama, and sometimes even comedy, opera has something to offer everyone. The best way to appreciate opera is to see it live, but there are also many excellent recordings available. And don’t forget to listen to the great operatic singers on the radio!
