New to the forum and a fairly new to opera

[MariaCallasFan]

Hello I have fallen in love with opera fairly recently and now want to learn more.  I am not mucical so  what sounds good to me  may not be what the knowledgeable of you out there count as good but hey music is there to enjoy and to move.I am off to watch my first opera in November and I am really excited about it.

As  you can guess by the name I am a fan of Maria Callas and of the modern singers I like angela Gherghiou and Anna Netrebko.

[Hollywood]

Hi there MariaCallasFan. Greetings from Vienna, Austria. So you are an opera newbie. Boy, you are in for the ride of your life. Enjoy your journey. 

[Lisztianwagner]

Welcome to the forum and have a nice time.
Oh, if you like opera I must definitely recommend Wagner, all his works are absolutely awesome!

Ilaria

[mc ukrneal]

Greetings! We can use all the opera fanswe can get here. What opera will you be seeing?

[Mirror Image]

Welcome aboard! Not a big fan of opera at all, but you should check out Janacek's operas at some point. Wagner's operas (esp. The Ring, Parsifal, Tristan und Isolde) are also incredibly powerful and emotionally riveting.

[North Star]

Welcome aboard! Not a big fan of opera at all, but you should check out Janacek's operas at some point. Wagner's operas (esp. The Ring, Parsifal, Tristan und Isolde) are also incredibly powerful and emotionally riveting.

And don't forget Saint-Saëns's Samson & Delilah, Berlioz, Ravel, Debussy, Mozart (Le nozze, Cosi, Don Giovanni, Magic Flute), or Carmen.

[Mirror Image]

And don't forget Saint-Saëns's Samson & Delilah, Berlioz, Ravel, Debussy, Mozart (Le nozze, Cosi, Don Giovanni, Magic Flute), or Carmen.

I think my list is just fine. Those are my own recommendations and these are yours. I would add to my list Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle because it's a personal favorite.

[North Star]

I think my list is just fine. Those are my own recommendations and these are yours. I would add to my list Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle because it's a personal favorite.

Of course it's fine, John, but I wanted to add the other ones, as I recommend them, too, along with the ones on your list. Bluebeard's Castle is very nice, and very different.

[DavidRoss]

Hello I have fallen in love with opera fairly recently and now want to learn more.  I am not mucical so  what sounds good to me  may not be what the knowledgeable of you out there count as good but hey music is there to enjoy and to move.I am off to watch my first opera in November and I am really excited about it.

As  you can guess by the name I am a fan of Maria Callas and of the modern singers I like angela Gherghiou and Anna Netrebko.

Welcome, MCF! I trust you've visited the Opera & Vocal section here? Some of the greatest music ever written is for opera and if it sounds good to you, then it is good!

My own favorites are Mozart's great three with librettos by da Ponte: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosi fan tutte. It's hard to go wrong with Verdi or Puccini and Rossini's Barber of Seville (prequel to Mozart's Figaro) is a perennial smash hit for good reason. Carmen, too, of course.

What are you seeing in November, and where?

[bhodges]

I am off to watch my first opera in November and I am really excited about it.

As  you can guess by the name I am a fan of Maria Callas and of the modern singers I like angela Gherghiou and Anna Netrebko.

Welcome, MariaCallasFan - what are you seeing in November? Since you like Gheorghiu, you might like this recording of Puccini's La Bohème:

[asin]B00008RBJE[/asin]

In addition to the other operas mentioned, you might try Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin - great story, great music. This DVD has an excellent cast:

[asin]B000YCLRBA[/asin]

--Bruce

[Mirror Image]

Of course it's fine, John, but I wanted to add the other ones, as I recommend them, too, along with the ones on your list. Bluebeard's Castle is very nice, and very different.

I see, my apologies.

[MariaCallasFan]

thanks for all the lovely messages- I am going to see Cavalleria Rusticana and Gianni Scecchi, its the Peterborough Opera Company.  I am told they are quite "light" and a good introduction.  having run through my top 10 arias list the other day I think I would have to go as Puccini Fan but I think the important thing is to be open to the experience and take the good from it. 

My 10 Favpurite arias are

o mio bambino cara- gianni Schicci- Pucinni
Oh bel  di verdremo - madame butterfly Puccini
Casta Diva Norma- Bellini
Signore Ascolta- Turnadot- Pucinni
Senza Mama Seour Angleica Puccini
Caro Nome Rigalleto- Verdi
Si peite di di non senti- Guilo Ceasar Handel
La Bel Clochettes- lakme- Delibres
Mon Coeur S'ovre a ta voix-samson et Delilah- saint sallens
Vissi d arte -tosca- Pucinni

Its so difficult to narrow it down to 10 as there is so much amazing music out there.

Strangely these are all saprano pieces and yet when I initially began compiling a play list  it was mostly Pavarotti.