themanyfacesoftally-deactivated asked: Hi! I'm 16 and new to opera, and I would guess (by your blog) that you know a lot about opera, what my question is is can you recommend me a few operas? I've seen die Fleurdermaus, Lucia di Lammermour, Faust and Rodelinda.
Hi there!
I’m very flattered to be asked this question, and though I’m sure there are several Tumblr people who are far more knowledgeable than me, I hope I can provide you with a few tips!
Seeing as you’ve seen Die Fledermaus, perhaps Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) could be of interest? Offenbach was an inspiration to Strauss Jr, so I think there’s a chance you’ll enjoy his music. The opera itself is a lot of fun, too!
As far as Italian opera concerns, maybe Tosca will suit your tastes? It’s supposed to be a pretty good “beginner’s opera” - built like a drama thriller, with exquisite music and a badass villain. Don’t miss Scarpia’s aria at the end of Act 1, it’s one of my favourites!
Perhaps I’m being cliché/obvious here, but I think everyone should see Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) - technically it’s a singspiel and not an opera, due to the spoken dialogue, but still. It’s fun and light-hearted, and the music is just magnificent. I know, claiming to adore Mozart is like saying “I like food”… but damn it, I ADORE MOZART.
If you’d like to, I’d also recommend you to check out some more Händel (that is, if you enjoyed Rodelinda): Alcina would be my best bet, quickly followed by Giulio Cesare. Baroque rocks.
Thank you for your question! ♥
