Metal Reviews

Don Giovanni, by Mozart.

Awesome show: modern, not drowned in bombast, but in symbolism. Cliché killing and old woman sitting next to me displeasing. Lot's of BOO from the conservative corner but Bravo from people that didn't care to see another copy of the piece. "The masked ball wasn't masked" said the lady next to me, but the brilliant part was that the persons who were supposed to unrecognizable because of masks, had each about 4 people that were evenly dressed, making music. Stupid woman.

You guys ever been to an opera?

Unfortunately not to an opera yet, but I intend to watch any Verdi that I have the chance to, especially the large scale ones like Aida or Nabucho.

I've been to several classical music concerts though. My favorite must have been the one with a symphonic orchestra from some eastern european country playing Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, 'Pathetique'. It even overshadowed the Iron Maiden concert I had attended just one week before that. The difference between listening classical music in your room and from a live orchestra in a concert hall is unimaginable. There's absolutely no comparison. Classical music and opera should be enjoyed live whenever anyone has that chance.

The closest for me is seeing Riverdance, but hey, all the celtic music kicked ass!

I've been to a few symphonies as well, but not an actual opera. The concert atmosphere is definitely better than listening to a CD!

nope, but i have been to some symphony once, which was part crap and part good. I think you, Misha, would have loved the crap-part and hated to good part

I would love to go to the opera once too. But i don't think you, Misha - the wandering Picasso, would want to join me, cuz you would probably be bohing due to the conservative stuff i would want to listen to - and vice versa, if we were to hear your stuff, i would be bohing

the only classical type music I've seen played live was some string quartet and then a trio of classical guitarists... I dont really know what they played since both times it was someone else who wanted me to go with them. They were good though, for some reason I love watching people play guitar o.O

I've been to a few symphonies. There was supposed to be a good opera in town a while back, but I missed it b/c of work. My future father in-law is really big on opera and symphonies. He really wants to take me to the next big opera that comes to town.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

It's ok, it wouldn't be fun if everyone liked the same music. Maybe I'm even glad that we're different!

I went to one when i was i kid. The only thing i remember is that i hated it. But i used to hate mayo when i was a kid so...maybe i'd enjoy it now. But i doubt it lol.

A common mistake people do is that they believe that all operas (as with classical music sometimes) are exactly the same. Operatic music can vary quite a lot depending on the composer, his style and when he was composing. Similarly, the script and plays can also be very different in the same way that movies are different from each other. The only things operas have in common as a rule is that there will be parts of the play that are sung from an actor or a choir, the music is played by an orchestra and it's in the form of a live theatrical play.

With that said, you should try to find an opera that suits your style and expectations. Generally, Verdi and Puccini are considered to be among the most accessible but these are not your only options since there are douzens of other famous and remarkable composers.

Misha, do you know a certain Nadir Vassena?

Nope... What about him?
Vassena doesn't ring a bell... Varese does though...

More of a Beethoven fan myself, Symphony No 9 (Scherzo) kicks classical ass! Also 'Moonlight Sonata' is great tune to woo the ladies with!

Nothing, he's a contemporary composer who lives here and works with my dad at the Conservatory...

Sounds like something I wouldn't do unless someone else bought the tickets and offered a ride. I'm all for trying different things but a bit sceptical. They don't even have moshpits there... I think.

There were fights in operas but those took place many many years ago, like in the 18th and 19th century. Not any more though. Even composers that became famous later, had nights when the whole audience went berzerk and attacked musicians and actors or were throwing vegetables and stuff. Moments like those happened during operas by Berlioz (riot), Verdi (vegetable throwing and thrashing the place) & even Mozzart (can't remember what). Not a moshpit but surely lots of fun for some!!

Heh, well I guess they really were the extreme musicians of their own time.
It's just that opera has that certain upper class attribute to it. Few people go to see it and yet it's receiving funds from the government and most of the time makes no profit. At least in Finland that's the case. Maybe if they made it a bit more accessible...

More accessible, that's called operette and is thouroughly BAD and GAY!