Opera!

[ebb]

[Level - Public]

I really do love last.fm. Based on my musical profile it's currently playing me recommendations. Currently I'm listening to Bizet's 'Carmen' - Habanera. And it got me thinking. I usually say I hate opera. But that just isn't true - I love choral pieces and I love lots of 'bits' of opera but knowing very little about it, I'm not sure what to plump for. Another piece I love is Offenbach's 'Les contes d'Hoffmann' - Belle nuit (Barcarolle).

So, for those of you who are far more educated on such things.... help! Recommend something to me, tell me what your favourite piece is and why, and hopefully I'll learn what to disregard and what to go with!

Comments

[devalmont.livejournal.com]

Der Ring des Nibelungen - It's the most awesome story, of magic rings, and families at war, and dwarve inventors, and all sorts.

[baloobas.livejournal.com]

I've coem over all Karl Jenkins after seeing the Stabat Mater last month (highly recommend very passionate classical scores :) - lots of oompf)

i'm not the most educated re opera but I do enjoy it - I went and saw Manon Lescaut in Vienna last year and can recommend that score and many other Puccini ones :) I must confess i like bits and bobs of Wagner (for that Walkerie feeling) and as generalised classical goes you can't really beat Tschaicovsky and Bach (I don't care what more educated musical palets say about Bach abusing simple structures I like him :))

Modern Classical I'm a big fan of Patrick Doyle and Clint Mansell :) (I also really like Vanessa Mae and I don't midn Scala)

If you want a beautiful voice Kathrine Jenkins has a new album of choral music (and a cover of Hallelujah) on her new album Sacred Arias which is being released soon (heard a bit in work - tis very good)

[akonken.livejournal.com]

I recommend the Carmen movie. I thought it was pretty interesting. Just make sure you're in the mood for something tragic!

I don't know much opera. We went to see Rigoletto ages ago (our opera singer friend, mrmerlin was in it). It was enjoyable, except for the fact that a) I got my first migraine while watching it and b) some of the tunes are so famous that it's weird to actually hear them 'in context' - I'd only heard them in Bugs Bunny cartoons before that!

[peterallison.livejournal.com]

While not much of an operatic buff (Although yuo can never go wrong with the great Gilbert and Sullivan), I do enjoy classical compositions. My favourite being Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy), especailly as performed by Christopher Schlegel on - of all things - electric guitar.