Crying at the Opera - What's your opinion?

[Jimi75]

Just recently I have watched the movie "Pretty Woman" again. In that movie R. Gere tells J. Roberts in one scene that most poeple cry at the opera. She then cries when watching a Verdi opera.

I think it is like with cheese. As a child most poeple do not like cheese but then when you grow older you kind of get a glance behind the curtains and flavour develops with the years.

I listen to a lot of opera music when I cook. My father was from Sicily (Italy) so I kind of grew up with opera music. Of course I made my jokes and said that those singers sound like Kermit the frog, but the view has changed with the years and so I learned to adore and understand The Opera.

For us musicians it is important to have a diplomatic view on things and stlyes and not to dismiss or ignore styles that may not be our most familiar or most favourite stlye of music (with the exception of Techno music - I guess you agree!)

If you ask me if people cry at the opera or at a classical concert, then I would like to answer that not everybody cries or has to cry to express his feelings toward the music, but I feel that the opera is filled with emotions and drama and that no matter which piece you watch or here it will give you the creeps - which does not exclude the fact that any other type of music couldn't evoke the same.

So - do you guys ever made any experience with that kind of music?

By the way, I have uploaded a little piece of music for your hearing pleasure.
Nessun Dorma - Nobody sleeps

http://www.box.net/shared/taq5o6tsbv

Greetz
Jimi

:AOK:

 

[Big_Rob]

There is only one musician that makes me get misty-eyed and his name is Red Sovine. I cant find the song that gets me teary eyed on youtube. But If you ever see the song "An Angels Last Good-bye", listen to it and know its the saddest song ever written.

Daddys Girl:
http://www.youtube.com/v/ZxrOx20MMaw&rel=1

Roses for Mama:
http://www.youtube.com/v/A0ELWgMp5Ik&rel=1

 

[R_of_G]

I have a bit of a different take on "crying at the opera." As I may or may not have mentioned before, I spent a few years working in operations at a National Public Radio station. During the daytime hours [other than during news programming] the station broadcast classical music, and jazz at night. During the opera season, we would simulcast the performances of the Metropolitan Opera [usually for 4-5 hours on Saturday afternoons]. When you are working the board every saturday for a few months, and have no choice but to listen to it, you learn a whole new meaning of "crying at the opera."

It's not my cup of tea, but I certainly appreciate the incredible musical abilities of the singers and musicians. I think a lot of the issue for me with not being able to get into the emotional content of opera is that it is, typically, sung in a language that I don't speak. I can appreciate the beauty of the vocals, and even grasp through the music some of the emotion, but any story is lost on me as I don't know what is being sung about.

Non-vocal classical music is a whole other story for me. I had a pretty decent respect for it before working at the station, but knew pretty much nothing. Having access to that library, and the knowledgeable classical programmers at the station, I was able to learn a lot, and discover for myself composers that I like to listen to. Of course, a lot more of my time went into listening to the thousands of jazz records there, but I did, and still do, dig the classical stuff.

 

[SuperSwede]

I love Opera music! But I never cry when I listen to it... heh

One of the finest opera singers in the world (the finest according to the now late Pavarotti!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUbA5y1hnFg (Nessun Dorma)

Doesnt make me cry, but this is just breathtaking.. awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo75jFLjKaw (he sings it in Swedish).

 

[Jimi75]

I love Opera music! But I never cry when I listen to it... heh

One of the finest opera singers in the world (the finest according to the now late Pavarotti!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUbA5y1hnFg (Nessun Dorma)

Doesnt make me cry, but this is just breathtaking.. awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo75jFLjKaw (he sings it in Swedish).

Thanks for this! unbelievable and moving!

 

[SuperSwede]

Thanks for this! unbelievable and moving!

My father knew Jussi quite well, they played together for a few years (my father plays double bass).

I especially like the his last tone on O holy night.. really impressive, not many tenors can hit that note! Thanks for starting this topic btw!