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

Some may think that these are an unusual first for opera but they were my first and I loved them. I would say either Tannhauser or Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg by Richard Wagner. In fact Tannhauser was my first live opera and I immediately became a big Wagner fan. At the other end of the scale I like a lot of Handel's operas too but here is a better idea. I'm thinking you have no previous experience with opera or classical. Why don't you head down to your local library and check out a few different ones. There are free and you can sample a wide array. Make a list of recommendations you get here and then go for it. This way you can spend your money on music you like. :yes:
:music:

Try out a couple that are probably already familiar to you, even if you don't know it yet! Both La Boheme and Carmen are easy to listen to, still very popular, and you've probably heard a great deal of them already (even though ya weren'treally listening! :D ). A good place to start, anyway -- give them a listen a couple of times with some decent volume on your main system. :thmbsp:

What about Pavarotti?

;)

-Storm.

OK I just watched the Paul Potts stuff and here are a few more ideas. These are lighter collections but they will also give you some ideas. Do you have the Potts album yet and if so what do you think of it?

Verdi Opera Choruses
on Phillips

Opera Babes, Beyond Imagination
on Odyessy

Amica forever, The Opera Band
on Victor

Sarah Brightman, time to say goodbye
on Angel

Il Divo
on Syco Music/Columbia