To want to listen to opera?

[FiloFunky]

I have a favourite track 'Sual'aria' and would like to listen to more - but what will I like?

AIBU to ask here for directions please?

Keep an eye on Sky Arts, I'm rapidly developing a love for opera because of what they show on there

Try here

Okay - you like an aria from the Marriage of Figaro (and Bartoli and Flemming singing it - two of my favourite singers ). I'm doing a happy dance because that is one of my absolute favourite operas. What is your local library like - mine has quiet a large collection of DVDs of opera.

I've got the version with Bryn Terfel on DVD.

You'd almost certainly like Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte too... little taster for you:

This is the Glyndbourne performance directed by Nicolas Hytner so it's really well acted too (sorry about the aspect ratio on the youtube vid).

The Marriage of Figaro has a "prequel" (actually they're both adaptations of plays by Beaumarchais), the Barber of Seville by Rossini (actually written a lot later than Figaro, even though the play deals with earlier events):

Other stuff I like (enough to have on DVD) - Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier, Mozart's Don Giovanni, Rossini's La Cenerentola (Cinderella) and a lot of early opera (an acquired taste - I've got Monteverdi's Incoronatzione de Poppea and Handel's Julius Caesar).

The choir I sing with are doing Purcell's Dido and Aeneas at the moment, and I've managed to baggsie the role of

I'm not big on 19th century grand opera - but I'm sure someone will come along and suggest lots of great bits of Verdi, Puccini, etc.

Sorry - my spelling is all over the shop at the mo. due to severe sleep deprivation!

We are off to the opening night of La Traviata tomorrow. The drinking song "brindisi" from the first act is a great singalong chorus and you'll recognise it as soon as you hear it. Try a Pavorotti version on YouTube for maximum enjoyment, or this year's Glyndebourne production.

Lurcio has given you excellent suggestions (break a leg as Belinda, Lurcio! It's an opera I love, and I was lucky enough to attend some rehearsals when Sarah Connolly was singing Dido at the ROH.)

If you're a Mozart fan, OP, maybe also try Don Giovanni (there's a good 1998, I think Salzburg production with Simon Keenlyside and Bryn Terfel, Carmela Remiglio which has large chunks on Youtube) and The Magic Flute (lovely ROH David McVicar production from 2003 with excellent staging and singing), also on Youtube.

The ROH does a lot of live broadcasts to cinemas around the country, if you're not in or near London, which is a great way to experience opera if you can't get to an actual performance. Have a look at whether a cinema near you does them. If you can get to London, you can get cheap day tickets by queuing in the morning.

If you like Mozart - Soave sia il vento from Cosi is similarly beautiful to the Sull'aria.

Something more unusual - Marietta's Lied from Die Tote Stadt will break your heart

Drama - finale of Dialogues of the Carmelites this is from the Met with Jessye Norman. Kills me! (And the nuns)

Puccini's Turandot and La Boheme along with Verdi's Aida are favourites of mine.

DH prefers more modern 'opera' (and I use the term loosely here), such as

Oh my god, Madam Butterfly, by Puccini. Wonderful. I'm also a sucker for Verdi's Rigoletto and Mozart's Don Giovanni. Delicious arias though would include Delila's final aria from Saint Saens' Samson et Delila.

Nessun Dorma. No matter how often it is hacked around, it is still wonderful.

What a lovely thread.

The Quartet from Rigoletto is divine. Try also Soave Sia Il Vento from Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutti.

Listen to all the really well known hackneyed stuff. It's well known and hackneyed for a good reason.... it's lovely.

Maybe look at the Classic fm favourite opera arias cd.www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-FM-Collectors-CD-Greatest/dp/B00DTQZND6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1411156758&sr=8-6&keywords=Classic+fm+opera+cd

Scottish Opera do something called 5/15 operas which I think is like 5 different operas of 15 min each. Not sure if they are specially written ones or if they are a summary of big ones. The aim is to get people in to it.

Also they do unwrapped. Which explains about it.

Not sure where you live but could see if local Opera company do similar?

Am not in to it myself but I used to nanny for Scottish Opera musicians so I know a bit.

I second Madame Butterfly, I cry every time. It's so wonderful.

Verdi's Rigoletto is beautiful & has a fair few well known pieces in it. I saw a performance in Venice this year: candlelit 15th century palazzo, following the cast to different rooms as the drama unfolded. Totally magical.

Other favourites include Carmen, La Traviata & Madame Butterfly.

My love of opera began watching Room With A View: Puccini's "O Mio Babino Caro" accompanying Helena B-Cs wistful daydreaming in Florence. I then bought a cd of Puccini's arias. Some people can be sniffy about compilation albums but they can be an accessible way in to opera.

Rusticated - thank you. And I have a huge girl crush on Sarah Connolly (she sings Caesar on the DVD I have).

Other thing worth looking into are English Touring Opera (who do everywhere from Buxton to Exeter), Glyndbourne Touring and (if you're in the North of England) Opera North.

Madam Butterfly is/will be on at the Albert Hall - 'in the round' production. Beautiful, beautiful staging.

Try Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti. The aria from the 3rd act (mad scene) was used in The Fith Element (Luc Besson).

I'm partial to choral works. Sorry, I can't link but google...
Gloria (Vivaldi)
Nulla in mundo pax sincera (Vivaldi)
Carminative Birrana

Oh FFS - bl00dy iPad.

Carmina Burana (Orff)

. I saw a performance in Venice this year: candlelit 15th century palazzo, following the cast to different rooms as the drama unfolded. Totally magical.

Actually spat my drink out reading this, so , so

My love of opera began watching Room With A View: Puccini's "O Mio Babino Caro" accompanying Helena B-Cs wistful daydreaming in Florence. I then bought a cd of Puccini's arias. Some people can be sniffy about compilation albums but they can be an accessible way in to opera.

YY remember watching film and being struck most with that song.

I liked MB but I have to say....lots of the singing is about mundane stuff.

Tosca, Aida, Carmen, Il Travatorie..

I adore the opera, adore it.

Have not ventured into Mozart yet but watched fun film with richard e grant called first night, which was sweet, if your interested in that sort of things

Ujjayi Fri 19-Sep-14 21:07:53

what was the company production called that did that, would love love love to do it.

I went to see Madame Butterfly it was so fantastic it made me cry 3x, in fact I still get goose bumps thinking about what a fantastic evening it was

YY I often watch sky arts too.

Another vote for Soave Sia Il Vento, sublime.
Rossini's The Barber of Seville has some wonderful arias.
The Magic Flute is also well worth a listen.