Opera In The Know - Florentine Opera

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Other baritones to consider: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Rodney Gilfry, Thomas Quastoff, Thomas Allen, Robert Merrill, Sherrill Milnes Basses Samuel Ramey, American. A Date with the Devil – Naxos label. www.samuelramey.com Nicolai Ghiaurov, Bulgarian. Great Scenes from Verdi Operas – Decca label. www.deccaclassics.com/artists/ghiaurov/biog.html# James Morris, American. Opera Arias – Capitol Records label. www.ffaire.com/wagner/morris.html Other basses to consider: Kurt Moll, Robert Milne, Rene Pape, Ezio Pinza
OPERA MYTHS EXPOSED Read on to dispel some preconceived notions about opera and what an operatic experience entails. The following may sound familiar: "I won't go to the opera because it's only for rich people." This is not true. Yes, getting front-row seats at most top-notch opera houses would cost you a month's worth of groceries. (The best seats at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City are now over $200 each.) But if you're willing to sacrifice your fantastic view of the performers' feet, less expensive seats (especially for students) are available. "I won't go to the opera because it puts me to sleep." Not unless you're bored by romance, murder, intrigue, betrayal, drama, magic, passion, switched identities, and star-crossed lovers! "Opera is a dead art form, so it's not worth going." Composers today are experimenting with opera, trying to find new ways of keeping the form alive. And the fastest growing opera audience in the U.S. right now is people in their twenties and thirties. "I won't go to the opera because it's all sung in some foreign language and I can't understand it." It's true that most well-known operas were written in Europe and are frequently performed in their original Italian, German or French. Today many opera companies perform translations so that the audience can follow the action as it's going on. In fact, the Florentine Opera Company’s production of The Merry Widow is Ted and Deena Puffer’s English translation of the original German. Moreover, all Florentine productions, even those in English, include English super-titles projected above the stage. No matter what language the opera is in, though, if you follow the instructions listed below, you'll be prepared to enjoy yourself. Moreover, many opera companies have super-titles projected above the stage that translate for you simultaneously.
Page 1 and 2: OPERA IN THE KNOW We are looking fo
Page 3 and 4: WHAT IS OPERA? OPERA FAQS An opera
Page 5 and 6: The popularity of the singers was s
Page 7 and 8: In 1825 the first opera performed e
Page 9 and 10: A GUIDE TO OPERATIC SINGING Every c
Page 11 and 12: Chest Voice This is where the natur
Page 13 and 14: A GUIDE TO OPERATIC VOICE TYPES All
Page 15 and 16: Lyric The word lyric generally desc
Page 17: Other mezzo-sopranos to consider: F
Page 21 and 22: TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE LISTENING: Getti

Opera In The Know - Florentine Opera

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