Comments on: Why does everyone hate opera? http://www.joshuaharris.us/blog/2009/04/11/why-does-everyone-hate-opera/ A music weblog for everyone Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:30:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: William Parlier http://www.joshuaharris.us/blog/2009/04/11/why-does-everyone-hate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-25 William Parlier Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:25:59 +0000 http://www.joshuaharris.us/blog/?p=99#comment-25 I feel like such a strange kid... I think I am one of the few non opera singers who prefer bel canto singing over anything else. I've always loved the meldoic lines in opera. I remember how I would always run around as a kid singing La Donna é Mobile (sp?) and and Schuberts Ave Maria in the biggest chest voice I could belt out. What I find strange about the average ear, is that they perfer out of tune vocals to bel canto. They cringe to beautiful in tune and wonderful timbred voices, but they are all over the out of tune and airy vocals of indie bands. It's strange how the musical intrest has changed over the years (obviously due to the recording industry.) The sad thing is that opera singer just aren't as good as they used to be either. I've play so many operas (Die Walküre, La donna é Mobile, Čert a Káča, Siegfried und Isolda, Die Meister Singer von Nürnberg, Lohengrin, and Carmen), but the singers these days fail to impress me. The only place I've heard a really good opera was in Germany. I just find it hard to find a good vocalist in America. It just doesn't seem to come easy to them (is this due to evolution? Are we losing our ability to sing!?) I'm greatful for the microphone though. I use it a lot in composition. I just wish music hadn't come so dependent on it. :/ I feel like such a strange kid… I think I am one of the few non opera singers who prefer bel canto singing over anything else. I’ve always loved the meldoic lines in opera. I remember how I would always run around as a kid singing La Donna é Mobile (sp?) and and Schuberts Ave Maria in the biggest chest voice I could belt out.

What I find strange about the average ear, is that they perfer out of tune vocals to bel canto. They cringe to beautiful in tune and wonderful timbred voices, but they are all over the out of tune and airy vocals of indie bands. It’s strange how the musical intrest has changed over the years (obviously due to the recording industry.)

The sad thing is that opera singer just aren’t as good as they used to be either. I’ve play so many operas (Die Walküre, La donna é Mobile, Čert a Káča, Siegfried und Isolda, Die Meister Singer von Nürnberg, Lohengrin, and Carmen), but the singers these days fail to impress me. The only place I’ve heard a really good opera was in Germany. I just find it hard to find a good vocalist in America. It just doesn’t seem to come easy to them (is this due to evolution? Are we losing our ability to sing!?) I’m greatful for the microphone though. I use it a lot in composition. I just wish music hadn’t come so dependent on it. :/

]]> By: Casey http://www.joshuaharris.us/blog/2009/04/11/why-does-everyone-hate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Casey Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:23:41 +0000 http://www.joshuaharris.us/blog/?p=99#comment-17 I fancy myself musical, but by no means a musician. I am very picky. I have a hard time with Musicals (save the classics like Seven Wives for Seven Brothers) because they seem to have license to put words to music without any real melody or return to a central theme (at least in my limited view that's how I see it). I don't listen to music to hear words. If I wanted to listen to poetry I'd listen to poetry. I listen to music to hear instruments come together to form an experience that connects with me on some level. If the singing happens to fit into that then all the better, and sometimes the blend fits perfectly. I allow music to affect me, that's why I choose to listen to certain songs at certain times. As for Opera. I've never given it the time of day because it's farther down the continuum than Musicals on the do-whatever-you-want scale. Credit to creativity and talent goes to where it is due, but I'd rather go on a run and listen to Joe Satriani bang out a melodic solo than the Three Tenors. It doesn't mean I don't think they aren't talented and truly musical. Maybe that provides evidence to your point with the current generation. I fancy myself musical, but by no means a musician. I am very picky. I have a hard time with Musicals (save the classics like Seven Wives for Seven Brothers) because they seem to have license to put words to music without any real melody or return to a central theme (at least in my limited view that’s how I see it). I don’t listen to music to hear words. If I wanted to listen to poetry I’d listen to poetry. I listen to music to hear instruments come together to form an experience that connects with me on some level. If the singing happens to fit into that then all the better, and sometimes the blend fits perfectly. I allow music to affect me, that’s why I choose to listen to certain songs at certain times.

As for Opera. I’ve never given it the time of day because it’s farther down the continuum than Musicals on the do-whatever-you-want scale. Credit to creativity and talent goes to where it is due, but I’d rather go on a run and listen to Joe Satriani bang out a melodic solo than the Three Tenors. It doesn’t mean I don’t think they aren’t talented and truly musical. Maybe that provides evidence to your point with the current generation.

]]>