I
love opera. I hate opera. I guess that means I have one of those
love/hate relationships that makes people neurotic, usually about another
person. But in this case I am neurotic
about an art form. And a beautiful art
form it is. There is nothing that stirs
my emotions more intensely than a great piece of music. A symphony, concerto, string quartet created
by one of the masters. I don’t care what
period it is from–Rococo, Baroque, Classical, Romantic–any of it can put me
in a listening trance. The better I know the music, the more
stirring it is and the more it does for me.
love opera. I hate opera. I guess that means I have one of those
love/hate relationships that makes people neurotic, usually about another
person. But in this case I am neurotic
about an art form. And a beautiful art
form it is. There is nothing that stirs
my emotions more intensely than a great piece of music. A symphony, concerto, string quartet created
by one of the masters. I don’t care what
period it is from–Rococo, Baroque, Classical, Romantic–any of it can put me
in a listening trance. The better I know the music, the more
stirring it is and the more it does for me.
I
can say this about some opera, but not all opera. I am a fan of, I think, what is commonly considered popular
opera. A Puccini area a la La Boheme will
bring me to tears faster than any Beethoven piano concerto or Schubert string
trio.
can say this about some opera, but not all opera. I am a fan of, I think, what is commonly considered popular
opera. A Puccini area a la La Boheme will
bring me to tears faster than any Beethoven piano concerto or Schubert string
trio.
Unfortunately,
I don’t know the names of the arias so familiar to opera fans. I’m really not interested in their titles,
nor do I feel any need to learn the unfamiliar words. Suffice it to say that I love dramatic
music.
I don’t know the names of the arias so familiar to opera fans. I’m really not interested in their titles,
nor do I feel any need to learn the unfamiliar words. Suffice it to say that I love dramatic
music.
There
is plenty to say about my hatred of opera, in spite of the love feelings. I remember one time as a very young adult–20
something–I was in New York City and decided to take advantage of some spare
time, raise my level of cultural exposure, and attend an opera at the Met. I was very excited about this and just knew
that the experience would increase my developing interest and appreciation of
good music. I was learning to really
appreciate Russian music so why wouldn’t I enjoy this Mussorgsky
masterpiece. What I didn’t know is that
Boris Gudanov is probably the longest opera ever written. And heavy is the only word that comes to mind
when I try to recall this experience.
The truth is I do not really remember much about it because I slept
through at least one half of it. The
entire opera is 4 hours and 15 minutes
long not including intermission.
is plenty to say about my hatred of opera, in spite of the love feelings. I remember one time as a very young adult–20
something–I was in New York City and decided to take advantage of some spare
time, raise my level of cultural exposure, and attend an opera at the Met. I was very excited about this and just knew
that the experience would increase my developing interest and appreciation of
good music. I was learning to really
appreciate Russian music so why wouldn’t I enjoy this Mussorgsky
masterpiece. What I didn’t know is that
Boris Gudanov is probably the longest opera ever written. And heavy is the only word that comes to mind
when I try to recall this experience.
The truth is I do not really remember much about it because I slept
through at least one half of it. The
entire opera is 4 hours and 15 minutes
long not including intermission.
I realize I do not sound like much of a music
lover when I use words like heavy and boring to describe what I truly feel
about some opera–the heavy, boring kind.
Not to mention names, but I’m thinking of the Wagner-esque type of
opera.
lover when I use words like heavy and boring to describe what I truly feel
about some opera–the heavy, boring kind.
Not to mention names, but I’m thinking of the Wagner-esque type of
opera.
And
so the development of my appreciation for opera was arrested sometime around the
age of 20 something. But no
problem. There are the few stirring
well-known arias that still bring me to tears.
so the development of my appreciation for opera was arrested sometime around the
age of 20 something. But no
problem. There are the few stirring
well-known arias that still bring me to tears.
I
must mention another point for love. The
performers are my heroes–well, more likely my heroines. In my dreams I am an opera singer. In my next life I am an opera singer. Oh, to be able to open my mouth and produce
such sound. Why do I always fall in love with these women? Perhaps it is their bosoms. Maybe I love them because they remind me so
much of my grandmother, an accomplished contralto, who often held me as a young
child next to her ever so soft, cuddly bosom.
must mention another point for love. The
performers are my heroes–well, more likely my heroines. In my dreams I am an opera singer. In my next life I am an opera singer. Oh, to be able to open my mouth and produce
such sound. Why do I always fall in love with these women? Perhaps it is their bosoms. Maybe I love them because they remind me so
much of my grandmother, an accomplished contralto, who often held me as a young
child next to her ever so soft, cuddly bosom.
There
is really nothing I can do to resolve the love/hate situation here. Just to admit that I probably will never be
an opera-goer and stick to only those few arias I love.
is really nothing I can do to resolve the love/hate situation here. Just to admit that I probably will never be
an opera-goer and stick to only those few arias I love.
© 7 June 2011
About the Author
Betsy has been active in the
GLBT community including PFLAG, the Denver women’s chorus, OLOC (Old Lesbians
Organizing for Change). She has been
retired from the Human Services field for about 15 years. Since her retirement, her major activities
include tennis, camping, traveling, teaching skiing as a volunteer instructor
with National Sports Center for the Disabled, and learning. Betsy came out as a lesbian after 25 years of
marriage. She has a close relationship with her three children and enjoys
spending time with her four grandchildren.
Betsy says her greatest and most meaningful enjoyment comes from sharing
her life with her partner of 25 years, Gillian Edwards.
GLBT community including PFLAG, the Denver women’s chorus, OLOC (Old Lesbians
Organizing for Change). She has been
retired from the Human Services field for about 15 years. Since her retirement, her major activities
include tennis, camping, traveling, teaching skiing as a volunteer instructor
with National Sports Center for the Disabled, and learning. Betsy came out as a lesbian after 25 years of
marriage. She has a close relationship with her three children and enjoys
spending time with her four grandchildren.
Betsy says her greatest and most meaningful enjoyment comes from sharing
her life with her partner of 25 years, Gillian Edwards.
