Indy.com
Today:
Ever been to an opera? Why or why not?
Indianapolis Opera closed its 32nd season last weekend. More than 3,000 people saw the production, "Tales of Hoffmann," but it didn't sell out, as others have.
Have you ever been to an opera, here or elsewhere?
If so, what did you like or dislike? If not, what keeps you away?
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We have been to the Indianapolis Opera and were season tickets holders several years ago. We haven't been to one in a couple of years. The biggest drawback is the sheer length of the operas. We love the singing, the costumes, and the sets but that is just a long time to sit.
I have to be in a very particular mood to enjoy opera. It happens about once a decade, so it's a very particular mood indeed. I don't listen to it for very much the same reason that I don't listen to experimental noise music or the latest Toby Keith album: it's just not something I enjoy hearing. I did form a rather odd attachment to Pagliacci at one point. I listened to a recording repeatedly over the course of several months. But I think I ultimately have to blame that on Smokey Robinson. Tears of a Clown.
I've never been. There are few people I know who go and I think I'd rather go with someone I know the first time.
I went to about one a year for awhile, but haven't been in a few years. I enjoy the experience, but don't listen to operas on cd. I had family members that went to "Tales of Hoffman" and they had mixed reviews. I think it was in French, so that's a little different. I think the storyline was a little strange too. From what I heard, this opera isn't performed very often which may mean that it isn't that good. Maybe that's why it didn't sell out.
Great points about opera! Length, mood, attending with someone and foreign language were all issues for me at the start. I have now been going for 20 years as part of my job, but I also enjoy it personally now, and attend operas elsewhere for fun. For many, I think opera is an acquired taste. Because of subtitles, foreign languages are not the barrier they once were in the U.S., and attendance has increased in recent years. For me, finding a good first opera and a friendly point of entry (in my case, orchestra music) were key. The first opera I was dragged to was by Wagner. I don't recommend Wagner for newcomers! Two good first operas are on IndyOpera's next season: "Il Trovatore" (Oct. 3 and 5) because of the familiar tunes, and "Hansel and Gretel" (Nov. 21 and 23) because of the familiar story.
Opera lovers are lucky if they live in Bloomington. With such a great music school--there are some great performances to see, and I tried while I lived there.
I really enjoy a lot of classical music. I grew up listening and playing it, but Opera never caught for me. I think it's perhaps an acquired taste. I went to 3 or 4 operas. I'll try again in a year or so.
Opera lovers are lucky if they live in Bloomington. With such a great music school--there ...
I as well enjoyed the IU opera. My brother actually worked there throughout college, so I would occasionally go down to see one and hang out with my bro.
I find that i personally prefer the more avant-garde operas, the classical ones can be good... but sort of feel cheesey or something to me. I like the really strange ones for some reason.
Great points about opera! Length, mood, attending with someone and foreign language were all issues ...
When you say subtitles, do you mean they have translation up on a screen during the operas here in Indy?
When you say subtitles, do you mean they have translation up on a screen during ...
Yes, that's right. I used subtitles because it's a more widely understood term. But the better, more accurate word for IndyOpera's system would be surtitles, with the "sur" meaning "over," because the titles are projected above the stage.