Opera - you like it?

[kennedia_nigricans]

I only like opera in languages i understand (which sorta reduces it to my 1st language as i don't know if there are any GOOD operas in english?).

I want to know what is going on (especially when i am listening to it for 3 hours).

[i-need-a-martini]

Opera isn't my music of choice but I do like Italian operas. And then the occasional pieces that are sung differently - my favourite at the moment is Filippa Giordano singing Habanera from Carmen

Here she is live. Not the best version (the recorded version is spectacular) but she is so beautiful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzTGttjG0vw

[bright.ton42]

Andrew de Leon is amazing, he reduced the audience to tears and me as well.  

He's only 19!

[icyfroth]

Hmmm that was nice...

French though? I was expecting Italian.

[bright.ton42]

---

@the*scarlet*pimpernel wrote:

I hate the sound of women singing opera, it sounds like a cat caught in a roller door.

---

this might change your mind?    Our Joan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5f5KMQaAac

[bluecat*dancing]

Its not my first choice in music but I don't mind it. I consider the voice to be a musical instrument so I listen to the sounds rather than the actual words.

[***super_nova***]

Operas usually have surtitles, so people who do not understand the language can follow the plot.  🙂

[freshwater-2]

That was lovely, Martini, although I think the orchestra let Philippa down.

Carmen is one of my favourites, because it is rousing, sad and fun.

In spite of sopranos tending to set my teeth on edge, my favourite song of all time is The Flower Duet' from Lakme.......

[amber-eyed-girl]

CDs have at the least a detailed synopsis, and can have the full lyrics in the sung language/English translation.

the voice is a musical instrument to me too 🙂

[gemsttonepette]

---

@freshwaterbeach wrote:

That was lovely, Martini, although I think the orchestra let Philippa down.

Carmen is one of my favourites, because it is rousing, sad and fun.

In spite of sopranos tending to set my teeth on edge, my favourite song of all time is The Flower Duet' from Lakme.......

---

I love Carmen but I was very disappointed with Filippa's singing in that clip. Rather than the orchestra letting her down, I thought her attempts at singing the sustained high notes were awful coming across as very thin & strained. Not what I was expecting at all. But in all fairness, Martini did say it's not her best version. 

And to Freshwater, snap, as I was reading your post I had The Flower Duet playing on Youtube on another screen. It's not my absolute favourite (I don't think I have one) but it is a wonderful piece of music. And the version I was listening to was by the soprano Anna Netrebko & the mezzosoprano Elina Garanca who incidentally sings a sublime Habanera. 

[green.fields]

No opera for me thanks, torture and Jazz as well but each to their own. I like some classical music.