Vic Smith wrote:
On Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:10:58 -0400, hk wrote:

By providing a list of popular opera tunes? Too highbrow for the
pseudomusicians in this newsgroup?

I really believe opera didn't catch on here because of language.
Aside from excellent voices, opera tells a story on the stage.
If you don't understand the words, you don't hear the story.
Of course you can read along with a translation, or learn the
language.
Musicals in English did well here, and wasn't HMS Pinafore an opera?
West Side Story, Seven Brides..... were moneymakers.
Even that said, who here hasn't enjoyed the Three Tenors even when not
understanding the words?

--Vic


Gilbert and Sullivan were the most successful creators of "musicals" in
their day, and their operetta, Pinafore, is one of the best. It's "opera
light" and lots of fun.

Your point on language is well-taken. Many operas written in foreign
languages are produced in English from time to time, but English is just
not as musically colorful in the opera genre as Italian. Italian just
plain sings well. French is a step down from Italian, but still more
musical for the genre than English.

I'm not sure how important "the story" is for most opera, because most
opera stories are way, way over the top and, in fact, kind of silly. I
love opera for the singing and then for the music. Even if you don't
understand the language, you can understand the emotions being sung.

George and Ira Gershwin's Porgy and Bess is probably the "best" American
Opera. West Side Story certainly is opera-esque, but it really is a
Broadway musical. Bernstein's music and Sondheim's lyrics are terrific.




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Republicans - They Take Special Pride in their Ignorance.