Would that be so bad? If your momma’s part of the Pink Floyd generation or if you are, maybe not.
If you just don’t get opera, that’s okay. It does often take tenacity to study it simply because there aren’t enough opportunities to passively listen to it except occasionally in a movie or a commercial. And most people like it when they hear it that way. As long as no one tells them it’s opera.
The piece above, “Flower Duet Redux,” is an adaptation of the “Flower Duet” from the Opera Lakmé by Leo Delibes. You might recognize it from the British Airways spots.
East Village Opera Company is one of my favorites, and I love how they added a male voice instead of only female voices as in the original. I also love the Queen cum David Gilmour vibe going on about two-thirds in.
Another adapation:
This one is “O Mio Babbino Caro” from the Opera Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini. Once again a male voice is blended with the female instead of keeping with the original soprano aria.
Oh, and it would be cool to attend the event hosted by International Festival of Arts and Ideas.
Yep, this one gets the Richard Armitage tag ’cause if he doesn’t love this, then I’ve completely misread him. LOL!
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RAFrenzy 
Very lovely selections, particularly the first one which is one of my favourite operatic pieces. I usually prefer male voices in opera, so this song is a definite exception.
I was 2 fer 2 on these vids! Not that I’m an opera buff but have learned to appreciate it. Just imagine how much opera I heard growing up considering my Daddy was a Bob Wills fan, the Grand Old Opery was standard fare on Sat. nights and Mondays were taken with Porter Waggoner.
I’m with Phylly3. That first vid is wonderful. First time I ever heard that song was in a Yanni vid years ago. The female operatic voice gets on my nerves fast depending how high they wanna go!! ;)
Of course he would love these. Heck, maybe he even likes Texas Swing too?
Phylly,
What are some of your favorite operas?
Interesting that you prefer males. I’m not partial to either, but as soon as I read your comment, a flood of great female parts came into my mind. Un bel di vedremo just one among many:
BTW, that opera cracks me up. Written by an Italian in French about a Japanese lady and an American man. :D
NB,
You and I have a similar background. I have no idea how many hours I’ve listened to the Grand Ol’ Opry. LOL! Would probably scare me if I knew.
I know Frenz. Gee, you think it warped us?!! Porter Waggoner probably finished me off. Bless his heart.
Servetus’s favorite might be Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro. She also likes Bizet. :)
My mother’s favourite female opera singer was a Canadian contralto named Maureen Forrester. I prefer the lower range myself as some of the higher sopranos can get on my nerves.
I am not really familiar with the names of operas, I just remember the individual pieces by sound.. Gilbert & Sullivan operettas were a favourite in our family as my mother had performed in several of them when she was a young woman.
I have never seen an opera performed on stage, that would be a great experience!
Phylly, if we ever get together as a group, it would be great to meet in NYC and maybe see an opera! You would love it! My dad took me to my first one. When I was in school, I used to go to the Met performances that came every year to my hometown. First one I ever saw was Aida with Leontyne Price. It was fantastic, and I couldn’t get enough after that. It was a great help that my dad was close friends with the president of the Met chapter; otherwise it would have cost a fortune to attend (read that several thousand dollars). The NY Met is a little easier to access but still not cheap. A decent seat is probably a few hundred.
You’re singing my song, no pun intended. NYC…are you ready for this?! We can take my truck, pick up folks as we head east but someone else will have to drive when we enter NYC city limits. This old chick don’t drive in big cities. Ever.
The Met has long been on my Bucket List…just think NYC, the Met, and opry to boot. Could it get any better? Well, yeah. Now that I think about it, it could. Schedule this for Dec. 14, 2012 and add a movie premiere to bucket list?!!
That sounds like a plan! Of course I have to go up to Harlem while I’m there. :D