I only joined with theauteurs a couple days ago, BUT I do have experience recommending “babysteps” into the world of classical and opera (I work at a CD/DVD shop).
The things I would ask that would dictate where/what you start with are “what kind of music do you like now?” and “what do you think you might dig about opera?”
For a couple blanket recommendations I would suggest checking out the
2005 Salzberg performance of La Traviata (tragedy, romance, historic/current staging)
http://www2.deutschegrammophon.com/webseries/?ID=dvd&PRODUCT_NR=0734189
and Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore (comedy, “Opera Buffa”)
http://www.emiclassics.com/releasedetails.php?rid=11683
Both performances feature Anna Netrebko ( http://www.annanetrebko.com ) and Rolando Villazon ( http://www.rolandovillazon.com ). I’ve been a fan of Netrebko for YEARS for many reasons. But L’Elisir D’Amore features a phenomenal performance by Villazon of the piece “Una furtiva lagrima” (act 2 scene 8) that sealed his fate as on of the best tenors alive (despite the injury he sustained to his voice a bit ago).
But, all that aside. A blanket suggestion when enjoying an opera is to READ THE LIBRETTO (storyline) FIRST! And then you can focus on the performance without having to take your eye off the stage/screen to figure out what’s going on.
Good luck. There’s about 250 years of opera to play with, and deeper still 800+ years of classical music to play with.
Does anyone recommend Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s Rigoletto? I’m jonesing for some good Verdi but I don’t want to sacrifice musical quality for flashy cinematography. Has anyone seen this and is the music at least complete?
I am not a big opera fan.
My introduction to opera was NBC’s early 1950s operas. Several times a year they broadcast a full opera in English staged for TV. I watched many of them and remember being bored by “Madame Butterfly.” However, the broadcast of Beethoven’s “Fidelio” remains a high point in my experience. I was transfixed by it and emotionally touched by it in ways I can’t begin to express.
Rosi’s film of Bizet’s “Carmen” is extraordinary. It is realistic and one of the few really well-made opera films I’ve seen. The other being Zefferelli’s already mentioned “La Traviata.” And, of course, The Archers’ milestone “The Tales of Hoffman.” I’ve concluded it is the best movie musical of all.
I would also recommend Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” The Houston Grand Opera’s production of it was amazing and is the only opera that made me as ecstatic as “Fidelio.”
I have also loved stage production’s of “Peter Grimes” and “Nixon In China” was miraculous. I’d love to see “Dr. Atomic.”
I just read the libretto of Wagner’s Parsifal and I was disappointed: it is bad. I heard the opera a few years ago on the radio and liked it. Tonight I will see the version of Hans Jürgen Syberberg. Any recommendations to see / hear / read Richard Wagner’s? Thanks.
JEFFY
I’ve never been to a play or an opera. Here we’ve got a movie theatre that streams live opera performances from The Met in NYC. Perhaps I should go….