All you opera fans out there. I want to buy a CD or two of opera. This whole Paul Potts thing has got me hooked. What do you guys recommend for a begginer opera listener?

Steve

The first on that came to mind was Bizet's Carmen. Everyone likes the overture at least. Then I noticed that you are from Houston as well. Lucky you. Opera in the Heights is staging Carmen as of this week I think. You should check it out.

CARMEN
by Georges Bizet
8:00 pm, Sept. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, Oct. 5, 6, 2007
A woman in love and erotic obsession. A tale of fanaticism, crime, evil, and murder that shocked the audience at its premiere. Conceivably the most popular opera ever written: its dances, melodies and gypsy songs are the liveliest in all of opera, culminating in a gripping finale. An opera with something for everyone. Two outstanding casts, eight outstanding evenings.

No knock against Carmen, but...
Die Fledermaus is awfully fun and entertaining.
http://www.theatrehistory.com/misc/diefledermaus.html
I guess this is technically operetta.

(DISCLAIMER: I am not a big fan of the 'bel canto' style) All opera IME is much more interesting and entertaining to watch as compared to listen to. So... I'd recommend that you watch a broadcast, or pick up a DVD, rather than a CD.

Also... many (perhaps, nowadays, all) operas are presented live in theatres with subtitles, which is rather helpful for dolts like me.

If you're open-minded enough to include operetta... there's always Gilbert and Sullivan!

Start with something light and fun. Mozart's "The Magic Flute".

...and Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, also light a fun.

Wagner's Ring Cycle. "Ride of the Valkyries" rocks harder than Dokken.

Wagner's Ring Cycle. "Ride of the Valkyries" rocks harder than Dokken.


Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit...

...sorry I was brainwashed as a kid.

One of my favorites is Puccini's Madama Butterfly.

Nicolai Gedda sings Bimba dagli occhi in Malcolm Maclaren's pop/rock version. :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pm4-UzHNf8

I just remembered seeing "performance art" that was opera/rock about 20 years ago by George Coates. It was excellent. Rock fans would love this. Jeff Beck played guitar.

I'll have to see if I can dig up the tape and post a sample.

CARMEN
by Georges Bizet
8:00 pm, Sept. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, Oct. 5, 6, 2007
A woman in love and erotic obsession. A tale of fanaticism, crime, evil, and murder that shocked the audience at its premiere. Conceivably the most popular opera ever written: its dances, melodies and gypsy songs are the liveliest in all of opera, culminating in a gripping finale. An opera with something for everyone. Two outstanding casts, eight outstanding evenings.


Cool! Just checked and Tickets are very reasonable. I'll talk to the wife about going!

Steve

No knock against Carmen, but...
Die Fledermaus is awfully fun and entertaining.
http://www.theatrehistory.com/misc/diefledermaus.html
I guess this is technically operetta.

(DISCLAIMER: I am not a big fan of the 'bel canto' style) All opera IME is much more interesting and entertaining to watch as compared to listen to. So... I'd recommend that you watch a broadcast, or pick up a DVD, rather than a CD.

Also... many (perhaps, nowadays, all) operas are presented live in theatres with subtitles, which is rather helpful for dolts like me.

If you're open-minded enough to include operetta... there's always Gilbert and Sullivan!


Excelent advice. A DVD would be better.. I agree! Thanks
Steve

Thanks all!! yes Kill the Wabbit!!! I don't know If I could ever listen to that one with out vission of Bugs Bunny in my mind the entire time.

Steve

Anyone mentioned 'Quadrophenia' yet? :lmao:

First opera: try Roger Waters beautiful Ça Ira.

For first time opera go for something a little light. Barber of Seville is a nice one to try out.

The Who's Tommy or Jesus Christ Superstar is also considered opera.

Wagner's Ring Cycle. "Ride of the Valkyries" rocks harder than Dokken.

What I was going to say, esp if you are hard rock fan, you'll find some kindred music there. Die Walkure will sound familiar to you, but I personally prefer the music of Gottedammerung.

Die Fliedermaus for sure, and see if you can get the English language version, the lyrics are a hoot.

Porgy and Bess. Which IMO is a real opera, not just a musical. And it is the greatest American opera--a true classic. "Summertime" has been covered by a slew of rock singers (Janis Joplin's version on her Greatest Hits album is the best.)

The Three Penny Opera, by Kurt Weill is another choice. The music is also jazz-influenced. Bobby Darin's huge hit "Mack the Knife" came from this.

For something more challenging, you might check out Phillip Glass's Einstein on the Beach or John Adams' Nixon in China. Both minimalist, but Adams especially uses some rock elements.

I agree with the earlier comment re: Puccini's Madama Butterfly, and I'll add to that recommendation Turandot and La Bohème -- hell, all Puccini operas are fantastic. And they "rock" as well as any real opera can. Another to consider would be these operas by Richard Strauss:

Salome
Elektra
and
Der Rosenkavalier

Strauss "rocks" in a dissonant mode, sort of the prototype "prog" opera, man.