Opera alive and well?

[Contratrombone64]

Fascinating (rather one sided, however) story about modern opera.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main...126.xml&page=1

[Corno Dolce]

Maybe its just me but I found the article somewhat obtuse.

[some guy]

Well, I just read the article, and I'd be very interested to know what you mean when you say "obtuse."

[Corno Dolce]

Hi some guy,

As one who has had the privilege of singing in Operas, I used the word obtuse for to describe how the article author, imvho, over-analysed how libretti are silly and don't make sense to rationally minded people - thats all. You might not care about my probably glib use of English in this context but I gladly entertain your opinion. Furthermore, I took exception to the author's *diminishment* of Cosi Fan Tutte and especially in light of his last sentence that *There has to be some engagement with the complications of human life as it is now*. His feeling that Mozart doesn't address the *complications* - Balderdash!!!!

Humbly and respectfully yours,

CD

[Contratrombone64]

Sweet Corn - I agree, quite obtuse and I think he's being a little precious about the lack of good stories dished up in the name of opera ... I mean afterall, it is opera.

I mean, quite seriously, if those stupid Rhinemaidens hadn't been so damned greedy about their gold it would have saved us about 14 hours of tedium.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi CT64,

Good point you bring up sir - In some Operas I get the feeling that they are *Soap Operas* - written before the TV came of age - I say, Opera is entertainment. It doesn't necessarily have to have noble themes altough some do have such themes. Some are banal to the hilt - some are comedies - some are tragedies - some are political satire - Golly gee, there are so many nuances.......In closing this posting of mine, I say: chill out, relax and let the show take you on a ride - without any preconceived notions.............

Respectfully submitted,

CD

[some guy]

But you guys are forgetting a couple of things. One, that Mozart cannot address contemporary realities, because he's been dead a number of years. (It was in all the newspapers.) The other is that this article presents the perspective of the artists involved, particularly that of the librettist. Not the audience. Maybe it's a good idea for the audience to "chill," but I don't think you really would want the librettist or the composer to do so, would you? (It did seem a trifle odd to see this article described as "one-sided," as if an article about the librettist should also be about the listeners.)

Otherwise, I think we hamper the discussion of "opera today" if we use the word "opera" as if it described a recognizable thing with certain characteristics. It doesn't. It identifies a genre that has had such widely disparate entries to its list, that one could never (legitimately) generalize about plot or costume or music or anything else. (Check out Miguel Azguime's Salt Itinerary for an example of a contemporary opera. It has one performer, very little in the way of costuming, no "arias," of course no choruses, and no plot. Any generalizations about "opera" one usually hears in discussion of this sort would miss Azguime's piece entirely. Hmmm. Probably a good thing!)

It's odd. We never use "symphony" or "concerto" or "serenade" like we use "opera," though I have seen some rather odd debates over what makes a symphony a symphony. Point is, no one asks "do you like symphonies?" in the way one asks "do you like opera?" I think the only other genre that gets treated this way, as if it were only one thing--which you either like or dislike, regardless of century--is the string quartet.

As a consequence, the discussions about opera and string quartets do tend to be sillier than... than... oh, opera plots!

[Corno Dolce]

Hi some guy,

You present some interesting theories but I'm wondering if you don't miss the mark by your statement about what Mozart couldn't address through his operas. What contemporary issues do we have today that have not been addressed by earlier generations and Mozart? Sex, Lies, Tragedy,
Deceit, Contempt, Faith, I could go on.......

I do agree with you on your last sentence that discussions about opera can become very silly especially when the interlocutors haven't the foggiest idea what they are talking about.

Humbly and respectfully,

CD

[some guy]

Hey Corno. The point is about "contemporary" things, not "universal" things. You've identified some universal things, things that will be important in any time. But that's not what McEwan was talking about. And even more precisely, he's talking about what's considered relevant today for a libretto. What does a contemporary librettist consider important when making a libretto? And that's going to be something different from what an 18th century librettist considered important, that's all.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi some guy,

I yield to your greater argument since you are a specialist in the contemporary world - I'm a throwback to another age

Cheers,

CD

[Contratrombone64]

Hey Corno. The point is about "contemporary" things, not "universal" things. You've identified some universal things, things that will be important in any time. But that's not what McEwan was talking about. And even more precisely, he's talking about what's considered relevant today for a libretto. What does a contemporary librettist consider important when making a libretto? And that's going to be something different from what an 18th century librettist considered important, that's all.

Maybe he's talking about what he thinks is relevant in today's opera libretti. Unless he's surveyed all opera librettists (I doubt that), his data looks empirical to me.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi CT64,

I must admit that when it comes to modern music - think of those who have been involved in Serial Atonality and after - I haven't a clue. Awhile back, some guy and I had an exchange about modern music and I must say that I learned something. I do listen to live modern music at different venues in town besides the University.

So, I do keep myself open - however, I don't purchase CD's of it since it doesn't speak to my heart. Ok, someone will say: *Hey! you listen to Messiaen, isnt that modern music*? To which I really can't retort anything of value. My humble guesstimation is that we all have internal tolerances which can only be stretched so far before they snap.

Humbly,

CD

[Lute Lover]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F8RMmxCg4U

I love your debate.. here is INSANITY for a theme...that is one thing that never goes out of style!

[Corno Dolce]

Hi LuteLover,

Yes, that was a rather *edgy* performance of Handel - the tension is brewing just below the surface the whole time.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[Contratrombone64]

Yes, PMT?