bigshot
Headphoneus Supremus
I've been an opera fan for over 25 years. I've seen the Ring live and have almost a thousand opera CDs. Here is my best advice to you.
Don't buy CDs. Get DVDs or bluray instead. Subtitles are better than librettos.
Start with one or two operas and watch them all the way through before you get more.
Start with Verdi, Puccini and Wagner's most famous operas. That means La Traviata, Rigoletto, Tosca, La Boheme and The Ring.
Do your research to find good staging, singing and interpretation.
Set aside an evening to focus on watching. Don't be distracted by people, phones or computers.
Read a synopsis of the action before you watch so you know the basic story.
Put the player on pause and take a twenty minute break between acts.
Watch the whole opera all the way through in one sitting. Pay attention. Don't background it.
If you decide you like opera, branch out to other composers.
the two disks I would recommend to start with are...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00361DR4Q/ref=s9_simh_gw_p74_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=13N9ZGTQJQZ0A8666NXG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00430EQK8/ref=s9_simh_gw_p74_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0M8GC0RX5252R2RQ8J51&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
The links go to blurays, but these are also available on DVD.
Don't buy CDs. Get DVDs or bluray instead. Subtitles are better than librettos.
Start with one or two operas and watch them all the way through before you get more.
Start with Verdi, Puccini and Wagner's most famous operas. That means La Traviata, Rigoletto, Tosca, La Boheme and The Ring.
Do your research to find good staging, singing and interpretation.
Set aside an evening to focus on watching. Don't be distracted by people, phones or computers.
Read a synopsis of the action before you watch so you know the basic story.
Put the player on pause and take a twenty minute break between acts.
Watch the whole opera all the way through in one sitting. Pay attention. Don't background it.
If you decide you like opera, branch out to other composers.
the two disks I would recommend to start with are...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00361DR4Q/ref=s9_simh_gw_p74_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=13N9ZGTQJQZ0A8666NXG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00430EQK8/ref=s9_simh_gw_p74_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0M8GC0RX5252R2RQ8J51&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
The links go to blurays, but these are also available on DVD.
