I do love theatre, but haven't been to the opera very often. I think I'm a hint intimidated. Theatre feels accessible but opera has such a different feel....


Christine
productiongirl@hotmail.com

I enjoy the opera occasionally but I see musicals much more often. I generally prefer contemporary and rock music to classical.

I am completely in love with opera and I see as much as possible. My first opera was Rigoletto and I was amazed. I wanted to go back immediately and did so two nights later for Madama Butterfly. I was so consumed by the music and acting that I completely forgot to watch the Met titles to know what they were singing.

To me, opera, especially at the Metropolitan Opera, is the ultimate musical theatre experience - the production values from costumes to sets to the orchestra to the singers are astounding. And since becoming a fan, I have learned about the years of training and the typle of strict lifestyle it takes to become among the world's best.

People think opera is high brow and expensive. But the truth is that opera is for anyone - you don't have to be an intellectual or a socialite. People dress in tuxedos or jeans - I've even seen a guy in sweat pants. You can make it the experience you want it to be. Also, at the Met and the NYC Opera, tickets can be unbelievable cheap - ranging from $20 all the way up to $300. The Met even has a weekday rush - 150 orchestra seats for $20! And, bonus, the cheap seats at the top of the house are the best for sound! Opera singers do NOT use microphones and hearing their voices rise up above the strains of the orchestra to that golden ceiling is heavenly.

Opera fans are from all walks of life and all over the world - go to the Met on any given night and you will see 4,000 people from down the block or from the far ends of the earth. It's practically a united nations right in the opera house.

Also, when you become an opera fan and begin learning the music, you will be very surprised to realize that opera is already all around us - tv and radio commercials, tv programs and of course, movie soundtracks.

I would say to anybody who is even in the least bit curious - just go, you have nothing to lose.

I'm a big theatre fan, but tend to see musicals, for some reason. However, since I'm in college for set design, I've been seeing more things like operas and plays. I love going to see operas at the Met because of how grand their productions are from a technical standpoint. I usually only get to see one opera a year, though.

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