Opera Appreciation for the Diva-phobic

Some of my opera gear

I know how a lot of otherwise open-minded people feel. They are, for some reason, intimidated by opera. I can guess why; opera has been portrayed in the media for decades as elitist and esoteric. True, it's difficult to have a great appreciation for an opera production if you show up at the opera house unprepared, or if you catch some fancy singing on the radio by chance on a Saturday afternoon. But aren't you curious? Opera has been called the most sublime art form, the very pinnacle of artistic expression. It is also a vibrant, living art form, with composers composing new operas and companies offering innovative productions of the familiar repertoire

I recently taught a three-week course in opera appreciation, and most of the students were curious but tentative when they showed up for the first meeting. "I'm not musical." "I don't understand opera." "Opera is beyond me." By the end of the last class, they were wishing the course went longer--they were thirsty for arias and costumes, Puccini and Mozart. What about you? Would you like some tips for getting the most from an opera experience? I thought so, and now is the perfect time as you will see momentarily.

Otello

1. If you haven't already, please read my earlier post on this blog about opera. Here I explain some of the vocabulary that you might encounter and I've posted some fun videos there, too: What Do We Talk About When We Talk About Opera?
2. Get your hands on a good DVD of an opera. Check Netflix, but also check your public library. I recommend Carmen (starring Julia Migenes-Johnson) or Otello (starring Placido Domingo) as good gateway operas because each is staged like a movie but with top-notch performers usually found in opera houses. Or, look for one of the Puccini favorites because you'll recognize some of the tunes. You can find these on Amazon.com, too, but I'm trying to make this an inexpensive financial commitment (just in case you get hooked).
3. While you are in the library (or Amazon), look for a book of opera synopses. I recently borrowed M. Owen Lee's The Operagoer's Guide: One Hundred Stories and Commentaries (Amadeus, 2003) and I didn't want to give it back. Lee's writing is modern and insightful, and it's hard to believe that his day job involves holy water, incense, and confessionals. Father Lee's book is still in print last time I checked. Fans of used bookstores can probably find vintage anthologies of opera stories. I have a 1947 edition of Milton Cross' Complete Stories of the Great Operas (Doubleday) which isn't exactly 'complete' anymore, as many operas have entered the repertoire since 1947.
4. Find your DVD opera story in your book and read it, and then watch your DVD. Make sure to go into the settings and select English subtitles, even if your opera happens to be in English or even if you can claim fluency in your opera's language. It's hard to decipher sung words sometimes, so remove that barrier before you get started.
5. Remove ambient distractions and enjoy the opera!

 Carmen

 6. If you enjoyed your DVD opera, take the next step. Consider attending a Metropolitan Opera Live in HD broadcast at a local movie theater. You can find the latest schedule and your closest participating movie theater here: http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/liveinhd/LiveinHD.aspx
The first of the season is coming up on October 4 (this is why this post is timely): Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin (I can't wait--I've never seen it.) These broadcasts cost about twice what a regular movie costs, but you get to see the opera live as it is performed at the Met in New York, AND, you'll be treated to interviews of singers and other opera folk during the intermissions. These events are wildly popular in my town, so much so that I have to plan on being in my seat a full hour before the curtain goes up. Latecomers get the seats right in front of the screen, which isn't as dismal a fate as they would be for the latest action film. Bring a tote bag with some reading for the breaks (the interviews and backstage tours don't last the whole intermission), some discreet treats if you are not wild about movie snacks, and a light sweater, and you are ready to enjoy a lavish operatic treat. The trailer below highlights what is coming up this season. (No, they don't pay me to promote these!)

Met

7. Finally, locate an opera company in your town and get yourself some tickets. Most likely, you will be handed a program upon arrival with a synopsis and list of characters, but you will have already read a synopsis in your book. There will be supertitles above the stage, or in some cases on the seat in front of you. Do you have opera glasses or binoculars, or can you borrow some? Bring them. Do you have a cough? Unwrap your lozenges before the start of the performance. Do you have a fancy gown and a velvet opera cape? You can probably leave them home unless you are seated  in a super-fancy box with dignitaries. I guarantee this experience will be extraordinary.