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My First Opera

Posted by Karma16 (A) on April 22, 2007 at 08:17:31

HI All,
I attended my first opera last night. It was a student production of The Magic Flute (in English) by the University of New Mexico music department.

I'm not into opera at all though classical (serious) music is my passion. And I love vocal music such as Requium's and Oratorio's and art songs. I even deeply love Gregorian Chant. I just don't like opera. Carmen may be an exception but I've never seen it live. I have seem it on TV and liked it a lot. Certinly the music is fun. Wagner on TV is a recipie for sleep.

I thought, perhaps, my barbaric attutude stemmed from only listening to opera on records or watching them on PBS. Maybe SEEING a live opera would be an epiphany.

So, I gave it a try. The auditorium was small (300 maybe), modern, and excellent. The student orchestra was better than expected. The price of admission allowed this small financial gamble, scenery modest but effective and the lighting and costumes were done with great imagination. The stage setting was Greek. I thought it was supposed to be Egyptian. But no matter. Nothing could save this work.

Since I have never seen a professional production my impressions were not polluted. I was willing to give the students the benefit of the doubt.

Well, the students gave to the work all the life and passion that is typical of young people that believe in their mission. More than the work deserved, IMO. There were some fine voices on that stage. Some not so good one's too but they were in minor roles and did not intrude.

All in all, I really enjoyed the evening. I loved the live sound. HI fi will never compete no matter how good the system. But I honestly can't see how reasonable people could possibly enjoy the music, the plot (what plot?) or the concept. I will not buy The Magic Flute.

I think it is typical Mozart fluff. I don't like much of Mozart because of a sense of cotton candy from his music. Certainly, some of Mozart is wonderful, such as his last three symphonies and others. But in general, I feel he wss writing for an income and not art. That's how the Magic Flute struck me. More Mozart fluff.

Two Thumbs Way Down for the music and Two Thumbs Way Up for the student effort. I applogize to you Mozart lovers out there. Either you or I is seriously misdirected.

Sparky

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