When I was a kid & the Italian feast was on, I could hear opera being sung as I fell asleep.
When I got older I started learning about opera and finally went to one. I was bowled over. I'm a big fan of Puccini, Rossini & Verde operas. Any other fans out there?

I enjoy the music, but not the experience of being at the opera and seeing it. The first opera I saw was magnificent, it was the debut of Birgit Neilson at the Met, and her performance blew everyone away. The next one I saw, Toca, soured me becasue I couldnet relate to a 150 lb. tenor singing love songs to a 300 lb. soprano. Music is wonderful, though.

I new you liked Opera....................

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED OPERA, BECAUSE MY BROTHER, WHO IS A CANTOR, WAS ALSO AN OPERA SINGER. SO, I WAS RAISED HEARING OPERA ALL THE TIME.

NOW MY FAVORITE SINGER IS ANDREA BOCELLI. THIS MAN HAS A BEAUTIFUL TENOR VOICE. I HAVE EVERY ONE OF HIS CD'S. SOME ARE LOVE SONGS AND SOME ARE OPERAS. I COULD LISTEN TO HIM SING FOR HOURS AND NEVER GET TIRED OF HIM. IS ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH HIM?

I agree with Kishmirin. I love alot of the music but I've never felt a desire to go and sit through an actual performance. Aida, Madam Butterfly, and several others the names if which escape me. My mother listened to opera allot as I was growing up. Guess that's where I picked it up.

quote:

Originally posted by marilyn:
[qb]I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED OPERA, BECAUSE MY BROTHER, WHO IS A CANTOR, WAS ALSO AN OPERA SINGER. SO, I WAS RAISED HEARING OPERA ALL THE TIME.

NOW MY FAVORITE SINGER IS ANDREA BOCELLI. THIS MAN HAS A BEAUTIFUL TENOR VOICE. I HAVE EVERY ONE OF HIS CD'S. SOME ARE LOVE SONGS AND SOME ARE OPERAS. I COULD LISTEN TO HIM SING FOR HOURS AND NEVER GET TIRED OF HIM. IS ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH HIM?[/qb]

YES I AM MARILYN, AND NOT ONLY DOES HE HAVE A VOICE OF AN ANGEL, BUT HE'S A DOLL TOO...
HE REALLY IS TERRIFIC...HE'S COMING TO FLORIDA NEXT SOON, AND I LOST OUT ON GETTING TICKETS.. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED..

Attending an opera can be an exciting experience. If you're worried about not understanding what's going on, all major opera houses now have subtitles either at your seat or above the stage. Three years ago, I saw Madama Butterfly at City Opera. The combination of beautiful music heard live, beautiful sets & excellent performances left me totally stunned. I've never had an experience like it.

Was Andrea Bocelli the man who did a duet with Elton John at some benefit concert? They sang This Songs For You. They weren't actually together, Elton was on a big screen. That was wonderful. I taped it, and I wanted to buy some music by the man who sang the opera part, but I couldn't find anything, it would have helped if I knew how to spell his name. ha ha I only like a little opera now and then, but I could listen to that guy all the time.

If you want to hear a great voice get the cd by Richard Leech. Half of it is classic opera & the other half is Italian folk songs. You won't believe his version of "O Sole Mio".

My favorite operas include "Pagliacci" by Leoncavallo, "Rigoletto" by Verdi and "Lucia di Lammermoor" by Donizetti.

Dennis,
You touched on my favorite subject. I earned my living singing opera for 10 years, then went into doing Broadway musicals. Am still doing musicals. My favorite operas are, Carmen, Aida, Trovatore, LaBoheme, Turandot, Traviata, Rigoletto, Tosca, and many more I can't think of right now. My favorite musicals are all of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, Carousel, South Pacific, Oklahoma, Sound of Music, and others.

quote:

Originally posted by Mimi:
[qb]Dennis,
You touched on my favorite subject. I earned my living singing opera for 10 years, then went into doing Broadway musicals. Am still doing musicals. My favorite operas are, Carmen, Aida, Trovatore, LaBoheme, Turandot, Traviata, Rigoletto, Tosca, and many more I can't think of right now. My favorite musicals are all of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, Carousel, South Pacific, Oklahoma, Sound of Music, and others.[/qb]

Mimi, my favorite operas are Carmen, La Boheme, Traviata, Tosca, Barber of Seville, Madama Butterfly, Platee and others. My favorite musicals are Oklahoma, South Pacific, Kiss Me Kate, Chicago,A Little Night Music and Evita. We have a lot of tastes in common.

EVA.....ANDREA BOCELLI IS AN ITALIAN SINGER AND HE IS TOTALLY BLIND. NOT ONLY DOES HE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VOICE LIKE AN ANGEL, BUT HE IS SWEET AND HANDSOME TOO. HE WEARS DARK GLASSES AND HAS A FULL BEARD AND MOUSTACHE. WAS THIS THE MAN YOU SAW?

Marilyn, thanks for the info. No, that wasn't him, if I ever figure it out I'll let you know.

THE ONLY OPERA I COULD EVER SIT THROUGH HAD THE MARX BROTHERS IN IT!

I like opera. I have been listening to Andrea Bocelli since I picked up a copy of the San Remo concert in 1995.

Never was an opera fan. I've never been to a live opera. It's not the kind of entertainment experience you're liable to find in Topeka, KS. There's nothing there that gets my attention. And for all of you saying "Don't knock it 'till you've tried it!" In most things that's true, but I've never been hit by a car and I believe that would not be a pleasant experience, either. To each his own. Remember what the old indian chief said? "If everybody liked alike, everbody would want my squaw."

I don't care for opera. But, I am willing to try it once !!

Mike, I do love opera, but even if you don't you will love Andre Bocelli. See if you can get the song "Time To Say Goodbye" a duet with Sarah Brightman. And then blast it, you will love it. I promise.

MIKE.....RJ IS RIGHT ABOUT THAT SONG. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. IT IS ON EITHER HIS "SOGNO" CD OR THE "ROMANZA" CD. BOTH OF THESE CD'S ARE EXCEPTIONALLY DELIGHTFUL. I BELIEVE YOU WOULD LIKE BOCELLI. NEITHER OF THESE CD'S ARE OPERA. THEY ARE STRICTLY ITALIAN LOVE SONGS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND ITALIAN, BUT FOR SOME REASON HIS MUSIC GETS RIGHT THROUGH TO THE HEART.