Confession is good for the soul - Opera

[WOStantonCS100]

...I create what I need in my head.

...arrrr... do ya now, Martin?

I completely agree with not needing visuals. (There's a can of worms.) But, anyway... my introduction to all music was without visual aids or live performances; and so, my preference remains for pre-recorded music in a controlled environment over a live show.

[MartinT]

my preference remains for pre-recorded music in a controlled environment over a live show.

Fascinating, and I agree for rock concerts. I'll go for the atmosphere and the event and even the lighting and projection but certainly not the sound. I far prefer studio albums to live albums, too.

For classical, it's different. There just isn't any comparison between hearing a good recording and, say, a big Mahler or Shostakovich concert played by a world ranking orchestra and conductor. Being lucky enough to have always lived in or near London, I have seen many very memorable concerts and, for me, they are the pinnacle of classical music performance.

Seeing Tennstedt, Solti and Jochum live were performances that will stay with me forever. Rattle, too. And then there was Radu Lupu...

[WOStantonCS100]

Fascinating, and I agree for rock concerts. I'll go for the atmosphere and the event and even the lighting and projection but certainly not the sound. I far prefer studio albums to live albums, too.

For classical, it's different. There just isn't any comparison between hearing a good recording and, say, a big Mahler or Shostakovich concert played by a world ranking orchestra and conductor. Being lucky enough to have always lived in or near London, I have seen many very memorable concerts and, for me, they are the pinnacle of classical music performance.

Seeing Tennstedt, Solti and Jochum live were performances that will stay with me forever. Rattle, too. And then there was Radu Lupu...

The last time I took my wife to the symphony, even in box seats, we were plagued with noisy and rude neighbors who mostly view going to the symphony as a status symbol rather than a chance to observe/listen to great orchestral music in a proper music hall. (So, completely rude and inconsiderate, ignoring the rules, talking on their cell phone!!! They even got up and left before it was over. Perhaps, that was a blessing.) Maybe, it's just where I live. We can't seem to get away from that element. Sheesh, that could be a whole other topic.

[MartinT]

Blimey, it's a bit different in London - although I would never want box seats as the sound is poor, better off in the stalls close to the orchestra. They are mostly knowledgeable and appreciative audiences. If anyone was talking on a mobile they would be ejected sharpish. I think we are blessed with decent venues and many world class orchestras.

[goraman]

I have always loved Delibs Flowers Duet from Lakme.
I can listen to Italian and french opera but don't much care for German as it's to guthral.
Thank God Arabs don't do opra it would sound like a bronchitis attack.

Biff, your not doing air guitar to opera now are you? That would just be wrong.
Not sure I understood you.

[WOStantonCS100]

Martin, indeed, I would imagine it would be quite different anywhere in Europe. It would have been quite different back home (NYC). But, here, despite the Schermerhorn Symphony Center being quite nice, the differences in audiences-at-large are easily discernable. I'm not saying everyone in this area is uncultured; but, like you said, an eagle-eyed attendant would have snatched up that lady and her cell phone and tossed her out on her arse, right quickly, in other places.

Jeff, no air guitaring to opera. I just meant the quality of the notes that the best opera singers can sustain and with such magnificent vibrato and dynamics. I find that grand; notes that can stop you cold in tracks and send shivers up and down your spine. I try to emulate that to a degree as a guitarist, just as I try to emulate the phrasing and inflections of the best jazz singers.