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When you hear the word "opera," do you run to buy tickets or run the other way? If you are one of the many people who think that opera means a big lady with Viking horns who sings words in a different language in a big wobbly voice, you might want to take a closer look.
No matter what kind of entertainment you like, you can find it at
the opera. If you like drama, you can go to an opera "seria," which
features powerful and tragic stories, or an opera "verismo," which
presents everyday people in familiar situations. These include La
Boheme and M. Butterfly. If comedy is more your style,
try an opera "buffa," a light, humorous performance such as The
Barber of Seville or Don Giovanni.
For those who enjoy dance, opera has everything from native folk to ballet to classical dance. Or if a rock concert is what you're after, opera's best instrument, the human voice, packs a deafening punch without needing microphones or other devices to amplify the singer's voice. For classical music buffs, opera provides both the conductor and the orchestra. And if you prefer big screen action movies, look no further than grand opera to provide action-packed scenes with spectacular costumes, sets, props, and cinematic special effects—such as a fully animated magic swan, a huge fire, or a parade of elephants and camels.
Some people fear the opera because operas are usually sung in the language in which they were composed. Opera singers must be able to sing in Italian, German, French, and other languages, as well as in English. Most of today's opera houses offer English supertitles, or translations of the words, projected on a screen above the stage.
Although many people think opera is complex, it has only two basic elements: the "libretto" and the music. The libretto, which means "little book" in Italian, consists of the words, or text, of an opera. The music, also known as the score, consists of both vocal and instrumental music. You'll want to read the libretto before attending a performance: It's like reading the book before you see the movie.
Even if you don't think of yourself as the opera type, whatever that type might be, take a chance on this powerful art form. You may surprise yourself!
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