Opera and Operatic singing style

[Puffin]

There are two brothers who have the No1 CD on the album chart who sing in the "opera" style. Does anyone here "get" it. I just don't understand why you would want to hear stuff sung in this way. To me it sounds so false, exaggerated and bizarre. What is the attraction?

[keiths]

I certainly don't get it.

"False, exaggerated and bizarre" sums up how I feel when I hear opera singers singing opera, let alone anything else.

[Trumpton_Rioter]

There are two brothers who have the No1 CD on the album chart who sing in the "opera" style. Does anyone here "get" it. I just don't understand why you would want to hear stuff sung in this way. To me it sounds so false, exaggerated and bizarre. What is the attraction?

I feel the same about rap music

[walpurgis]

Some opera music and singing can be truly beautiful.

But as a concept it makes little sense to me. Surely, if you have a story to tell, it's a play. Why ruin any depiction of the events though the story by bursting into song? Credibilty goes immediately.

I feel the same way about musical films, they do nothing for me. With one exception, 'Cat Ballou' which was not intended to be taken seriously in any case and has what is probably Lee Marvin's finest performance.

[Trumpton_Rioter]

and dont they sing it all in Latin or something - and I do know I am a philistine :ner:

[walpurgis]

and dont they sing it all in Latin or something

No, many languages.

[Trumpton_Rioter]

just goes to show that I dont and havent really listened to it, I just thought it all sounded like Latin so maybe I should try some and then make a judgement :doh:

[Andrew B]

I tend to find Opera about as appealing as noisy adverts. The old "Go Compare ads" used to really light my fuse as they combined two pet hates! I always switch over if I hear Leslie Garrett is appearing on TV too. She just bursts into that awful hollering in mid sentence without warning. I tend to think of Opera lovers in the same vein as foot fetishists. Eeeurgh!

If people enjoy Opera, I'm happy for them. Whatever floats your boat. Mind you, I don't listen to classical either, although I did try many years ago.

[Trumpton_Rioter]

foot fetishists. Eeeurgh!

I am with you on that one - what does go through peoples minds getting off on some dirty, smelly maky foot yuch

I will give some opera a go just for the hell of it then I can say for certain I dont like it 'cos I have tried it. I occasionally listen to clasical but not very often

[Gordon Steadman]

Not sure. My wife calls it 'those warbling wimmin'.

Occasionally there is something that appeals but I have just two things in my collection. I hate to admit to G4 singing Nessun Dorma but there you go, and I have the three tenors concert ripped from video.

I can't remember when I last listened to either of them.

I went to a couple of modern settings when I was up in London every week being cultural but I can't say I enjoyed it much.

As ever, each to their own, there are millions out there who appear (at least) to enjoy it.

[Puffin]

Glad I am not the only one. How many do you have to sell these days to get a Number 1. 25 or less:lol:

[Oldpinkman]

peasants :(

[Gordon Steadman]

peasants :(

Absolutely, last one I had was like Coq au Vin with lots of added Cognac to tenderise it. Delicious with new spuds and some nice fresh greens from the garden. Its a great life out here.:ner:

[Gordon Steadman]

If people enjoy Opera, I'm happy for them. Whatever floats your boat. Mind you, I don't listen to classical either, although I did try many years ago.

I probably listen to classical music about 75% of the time. More correct to say I listen to Baroque really - Bach, Vivaldi, Paganini etc. Even so, I find little to get exited about with Opera. I find its a bit like watching actors overact whilst trying to sing at the same time. Just not my scene. Maybe we all need a Richard Gere character to waft us away in a jet and give us a masterclass in understanding musical over emoting:)

[Oldpinkman]

Absolutely, last one I had was like Coq au Vin with lots of added Cognac to tenderise it. Delicious with new spuds and some nice fresh greens from the garden. Its a great life out here.:ner:

We haven't planned our route home yet. Mrs S is practicing aria's acapella to treat you should we drop in. Failing that I can accompany her on guitar doing "I dreamed a dream" in a key where she can water your eyes. Then you can tell her about your cooking ...:ner: My reckoning is , you'll end up wearing it. These sopranos are taught to fight mean :eyebrows:

[Oldpinkman]

I probably listen to classical music about 75% of the time. More correct to say I listen to Baroque really - Bach, Vivaldi, Paganini etc. Even so, I find little to get exited about with Opera. I find its a bit like watching actors overact whilst trying to sing at the same time. Just not my scene. Maybe we all need a Richard Gere character to waft us away in a jet and give us a masterclass in understanding musical over emoting:)

It's the old acquired taste thing. I can remember my dad, while discussing whisky, saying "why would I want to acquire a taste for a drink that tastes like vitriol"? At the time he took me to an Italian restaurant where he always ordered his favourite wine - "Sleeping Beauty" - a liebfraumilch. A good one, but a liebraumich for all that. This was with steak.

These days my Dad travels the Rhone valley visiting producers he was introduced to by my french-ex's father, to lay down. I still rib him when he blows the dust off a Morgon from his collection about acquired tastes and liebfraumilch.

Opera is pure theatre. In the way all theatre is - it is larger than life - its' not that dreary product it shares a name with - soap opera. It is spectacular, fun, sad, but always hammed up big.

It also involves playing classical music with one of the most exceptional instruments - the human voice. Of course the barriers are,

you don't like classical music
you don't know the plot
and you can't understand the words.

But you can read up the libretto's, opera is performed in English language (I happen to prefer it in its native language, but). Try Carmen in English to get you started - you probably know half the tunes anyway. I watched a performance with horses once - over the top Opera theatre at its best.

And Les Mis is an operatic piece of theatre, which all our kids are watching the 3rd repeat of. Careful or I'll post the missus singing on here :eek:

[keiths]

I hate all singing in classical music . I love Vaughan Williams, but I can't abide 'Sea Symphony' because of the singing. It seems a shame - some great music I can't stand to listen to because singing ruins it.

It's probably the same with opera - I suspect I'm missing some good tunes. What we need are some recordings of opera arias with some proper singers - "Leonard Cohen sings Verdi" or suchlike.

[The Grand Wazoo]

I hate all singing in classical music .

That's exactly how I feel about it Keith


(Eek - 14k posts!)

[Gordon Steadman]

(Eek - 14k posts!)

Wow, I was quite impressed with managing 350:lol:

[Oldpinkman]

Wow, I was quite impressed with managing 350:lol:

Just look out for wearing your dinner mate - that's my advice :)

[dantheman91]

I love a bit of opera some of it is great

[Gordon Steadman]

Just look out for wearing your dinner mate - that's my advice :)

We are out of the country for the next ten weeks:ner:

[Oldpinkman]

We are out of the country for the next ten weeks:ner:

Very wise mate. I would say 10 weeks is the minimum with the missus on the war path. Would that I had that option. :)

[Oldpinkman]

I love a bit of opera some of it is great

Thank goodness for some sanity at last. I've always said what a nice amp the Quad 33 is ...;)

[walpurgis]

I've always said what a nice amp the Quad 33 is

They make nice looking bookends! :D

[Gordon Steadman]

They make nice looking bookends! :D

Give it a break. There are folk on here that like the things and use them in their main system. Why keep knocking their choice? We have the message.:(

[walpurgis]

Give it a break

Cheer up Gordon. :)

[pjdowns]

Cheer up Gordon. :)

:lol: - clearly not read your signature :lol:

[Gordon Steadman]

Cheer up Gordon. :)

I'm Mr Happy:(

[pjdowns]

Really :lol:

[walpurgis]

:lol: - clearly not read your signature :lol:

Everybody seems to miss that. Fair warning I say! ;)

[ceejaydee]

I enjoy listening to Classic Opera performed by Opera singers - Renée Fleming, Angela Gheorghiu, Diana Damrau, Natalie Dessay, Roberto Alagna, Juan Diego Flórez and the like. Singers and actors who have performed this type of music within context and therefore have the understanding of the story and libretto to be able to convey the emotion in the musical pieces to an audience be that audibly on a recording or together with the complimentary visuals in a performance.

Just as I am not a fan of 'Greatest Hits' albums in pop & rock I am not a fan of Operatic style albums or 'Highlights & Aria' type albums from singers who have never performed in any kind of opera - I'm thinking here of the likes of Il Divo, Katherine Jenkins, Charlotte Church et al

This is the Coffee Table music listened to by the masses that will buy the current #1 Album and the likes of The Canadian Tenors, Jonathan & Charlotte etc... my Mother would probably like it but what does she know; she turned her nose up at 'The Four Last Songs' album I bought her a couple of years ago performed by the superb Renée Fleming.
Nothing wrong with liking Coffee Table music sung in an operatic style if that is your bag but it really shouldn't be compared to real opera and possibly fits in more with the general easy listening genre rather than proper Easy Listening... Sinatra, Bennett, Peggy Lee etc

I don't question or doubt the genuine talent or ability of these people to sing in some instances but just like listening to Susan Boyle, singing and hitting all the right notes in the right order doesn't make it an enjoyable performance.. It needs and deserves so much more, then and only then does it start to make sense and you can begin to share the emotion conveyed.

Now whilst I like Opera and have been to see a couple with my good Lady I really don't get ballet at all! :scratch:

[Oldpinkman]

I enjoy listening to Classic Opera performed by Opera singers -...
Just as I am not a fan of 'Greatest Hits' albums in pop & rock I am not a fan of Operatic style albums or 'Highlights & Aria' type albums from singers who have never performed in any kind of opera - I'm thinking here of the likes of Il Divo, Katherine Jenkins, Charlotte Church et al

...

I don't question or doubt the genuine talent or ability of these people to sing in some instances but just like listening to Susan Boyle, singing and hitting all the right notes in the right order doesn't make it an enjoyable performance...

Now whilst I like Opera and have been to see a couple with my good Lady I really don't get ballet at all! :scratch:

Ah - thank Evans - a bit of class in this place. I broadly agree, although the missus is a huge KJ fan - and can't understand why she isn't on the same bandwagon. About 4 bra sizes and the fact the KJ is a mezzo are some of the reasons, but don't tell her I said so :lol:

And my earlier offer to accompany her for Gordon's benefit on "I dreamed a dream" - I call it the Susan Boyle song every time. And every time get "Its the Suzanne Williams song - I sung it first on Bob Monkhouse Opportunity knocks". How the mighty fall. I am not encouraging her to get a moustache to compete with SB. (And having recently listened to "that performance" again - and had wet eyes, it ain't great singing...)

Ballet - I'm sort of with you - but I think its probably our loss, along the lines of my earlier post about acquired tastes. Try the DVD or Blue-ray "Black Swan" if you can borrow it for free - I struggled with it cos it had no obvious plot. Sue ached and cried, cos she had a pushy show-biz Mum pushed her into weekly national singing competitions. My ex mother-in-law once took us, when my daughter was 4, to see "The Nutcracker" - the only ballet I have ever seen live, and whilst I find it hard to understand now, I remember I loved it at the time. Maybe because Rachel did.

Keep enjoying your Opera! And pity the plebs :ner:

Richard

[ceejaydee]

Ah - thank Evans - a bit of class in this place.
Steady on there... Not sure that I represent class per se ;)I just have a very wide and varied taste in music :eyebrows:


Ballet - I'm sort of with you - but I think its probably our loss, along the lines of my earlier post about acquired tastes. Try the DVD or Blue-ray "Black Swan" if you can borrow it for free - I struggled with it cos it had no obvious plot..........

Oh I agree in terms of being our loss; some of the music written for ballet is delicious but I can't quite get the live performance.
We went to see Romeo & Juliet a couple of years back and I just found it tough going... mind you a poxy uncomfortable seat that was barely big enough didn't help which surprised me as the theatre in Milton Keynes is relatively modern.
The suggestion of 'Black Swan' could be a good one as I don't mind a bit of a Natalie Portman and could quite happily watch her for a couple of hours :popcorn:


So that is Opera and Ballet sorted.... Rocky Horror anyone :sofa: