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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not enjoy opera?

108 replies

Star555 · 19/04/2021 21:27

I love classical music but simply cannot stand operas in their entirety. Some songs are certainly magnificent vocal tours de force (like the Queen of the Night song in The Magic Flute, and the Flower Duet in Lakme). But for the most part operas are just hours of unnaturally high-pitched, incomprehensible singing (often people singing over each other and creating quite a cacophony, hard to understand the words no matter what language they're in, and having to look at surtitles is distracting) that isn't pleasing to the ear, barring one or two memorable songs per opera.

I say this as someone with years of classical music training and as a lover of symphony orchestra concerts, choral and solo singing, dramatic theatre and musical theatre. I will gladly sit through entire symphonies or Shakespeare plays or ballet performances or musicals. But entire operas I find intolerable!

OP posts:
MasterBeth · 19/04/2021 21:34

When my daughter was a toddler, I was flicking the radio around in the car and came across a female operatic singer. My daughter could not stop laughing - she was absolutely hysterical!

That’s pretty much my position too. I find the singing style so unnatural, mannered and unpleasant. Not for me, thanks.

everywhichway · 19/04/2021 21:43

Have you tried La Boheme? If that doesn't soften your heart towards opera a little then I guess nothing will - and it's not too long either!

HeadBeeGuy · 19/04/2021 21:44

You're allowed to not like things...

Icequeen01 · 19/04/2021 21:45

Opera literally puts my teeth on edge! 😀

Angrypregnantlady · 19/04/2021 21:45

I don't like female opera but I love male opera. Their voices are just so soothing.

garlictwist · 19/04/2021 21:46

I went to an opera in my early twenties as they were doing tickets for a fiver for young people.

I endured it until the interval, then realised there was another three hours to go! I left.

Lockheart · 19/04/2021 21:47

Are you really asking if you're unreasonable to not like a certain genre of music?

You're allowed to have tastes and preferences.

ShinyMe · 19/04/2021 21:52

You're allowed to not like it!

But "opera" is a huge term encompassing so many styles, it's hard to believe that they all sound so awful to your ears. Puccini for example is massively different to something like Wagner or Benjamin sodding Britten. But if you've tried some and don't like it then it's fine to not listen to any more. It's not as though opera is difficult to avoid in daily life, or anyone is forcing you to sit through the Ring Cycle every weekend.

Moondust001 · 19/04/2021 21:52

hours of unnaturally high-pitched, incomprehensible singing (often people singing over each other and creating quite a cacophony, hard to understand the words no matter what language they're in, and having to look at surtitles is distracting) that isn't pleasing to the ear, barring one or two memorable songs

I thought you were describing a pop concert there.

I love opera. You aren't required to.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 19/04/2021 21:53

Do you like operettas? Gilbert and Sullivan etc?

TheDogsMother · 19/04/2021 21:57

I struggle with opera and female soprano voices in particular. The pitch is uncomfortable to listen to and I find the style really unnatural. I suspect it is me that's lacking, not opera 😂

Foofbrush · 19/04/2021 22:03

You are not being unreasonable to dislike it when you've tried to. Ywbu to dismiss it without ever having experienced it.

I (normally) spend half my life working in opera, and can get overcome by the sheer beauty of the music and amazed at the hard work to sing unamplified over an orchestra. But I also think some of it is god-awful cacophony (and that's before we get started on Stockhausen's operas)

AppleDolphin · 19/04/2021 23:22

I love all musical genres including opera, but no matter what I just don't "get" jazz. I've tried, god I've tried, but to me it sounds like everybody is playing a different score, it makes my head ache. It really annoys me!

takingmytimeonmyride · 19/04/2021 23:27

I've on,y been to the opera once. I fell asleep. That tells me all I need to know. At least I got free tickets so I didn't spend money on a nap.

BackforGood · 19/04/2021 23:29

Nobody could BU for not enjoying ANY particular genre of music, doesn't matter what it is.

I mean, I'm with you on the opera, but even if I did like it, Y still WNBU to dislike it.

Same as I really don't like watching rugby, but I can see why it appeals to many.

I personally don't like raisins - which doesn't make me unreasonable, just a person with different tastebuds from many.

etc

etc

etc

Mintyflesh · 20/04/2021 00:21

I like a bit of opera but agree there's an unnecessary amount of fluff between the real tunes.
Linda Smith put it perfectly. Listen from 7 minutes in. m.youtube.com/watch?v=t8N-c4gv4i0

Toddlerteaplease · 20/04/2021 00:25

I love choral music. But don't like opera at all. I found the soprano at Prince Phillips funeral very overpowering at times.

Devlesko · 20/04/2021 00:38

I used to be like this, but then my dd anounced she was going to be an opera singer, we thought she'd said it out of spite.
I had to learn quickly in order to support her and we still laugh at me recognising the "music from the advert"
My favourite has to be finale of La traviatta, "I enjoyed it so much I nearly peed myself"

maras2 · 20/04/2021 00:47

I've been waiting to be grown up enough to like opera.
68 now.
Need a bit more time. Grin

JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 20/04/2021 01:07

YANBU.

I absolutely adore the theatre, and go as often as I can (it's been a real Miss during lockdown). I went to my first opera a few years ago, paid a small fortune for the tickets. Never again. I was SO bored and despite what everyone says, no I couldn't figure out what was going on. It turns out I need dialogue (in a similar vein I also saw swan lake once no dialogue and nodded off). I found the whole thing headache inducing. A shame really, I was expecting the experience to be like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (minus the diamonds and prostitution bit Grin)

beebeabee · 20/04/2021 01:19

I just wish I understood what they are saying..

TheSandman · 20/04/2021 01:26

No, you're not being unreasonable. Personally I like baroque opera, am bored rigid by Wagner, and Benjamin Sodding Britten makes me want to tear my head off.

I also find classical ballet an incomprehensible waste of time.

Sleepingdogs12 · 20/04/2021 02:00

Used to hate , hate, hate it. Now I am beginning to love it, not all but expending my knowledge. No clue mostly about what is going on but love the emotion.

Justilou1 · 20/04/2021 02:38

I used to be an opera singer. Love doing it. (The clothes, the camera serie, bitchy stories, etc...) Hate going. It’s true - there are a few great bits joined together by some really boring and annoying bits.

Star555 · 20/04/2021 16:07

there are a few great bits joined together by some really boring and annoying bits

This. EXACTLY. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who feels this way on this thread! Given my love for other "posh" classical entertainment that runs for hours, I really thought my dislike of opera was quite anomalous.

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