VEGANGELICA

Hi SaphiaGlam,

Is this the video you intended?



To get the video to work, just use the the "C2ODfuMMyss" portion of the website (the part that comes after the "v=") between the two Youtube commands.

I found a longer version of this same scene that includes the German dialogue before the song, and I enjoyed trying to understand that and the build-up to the song.

I think I haven't explored opera as much as I should to really appreciate the magnitude of its artistry. One problem is that often the operas are not in English, and while I can usually follow the German operas (although it is still hard for me to understand all the words when they are sung), I can't understand the Italian or French operas, and so much of the impact is missing for me. I really like to understand the meaning behind the words and actions. Subtitles certainly help!

I have seen quite a few operas by Wagner when I was 18 years old in Germany, as well as orchestra performances conducted by Herbert van Karajan, whom people told me was famous, although that had no impact on me because I didn't know why he was considered famous. At the time I didn't appreciate the operas and performances as much as I probably would now. My parents graciously invited me to a Berlin opera series that, I think, included *all* Wagner's operas over the course of a year. The operas were very, very long...and we were often very, very high up in the seats. So, it was difficult to follow the action and emotion. Sometimes the plots seemed far-fetched so that I could not suspend disbelief and thus always watched them with a feeling of divide or separation, rather than feeling immersed in the action, in the moment of the play/opera.

I ask myself, now, if I *like* the sound of opera...the head voice, the vibrato. I am amazed by the skill of the singers, because I know with my own far more rudimentary singing that such control/relaxation plus range must take much training and attention. Hearing what it is like for you to sing and perform operas makes it more interesting to me! I have mixed feelings, though, about the style of singing. Sometimes opera singing seems too melodramatic for me. Sometimes the songs seem more about demonstrating skills (such as with super high notes) than conveying emotion. Yet there are opera songs that *are* incredibly beautiful and moving!

Perhaps I should say that I do not like all operas, but sometimes I hear pieces that pull me in. Often, though, for me watching/listening to an opera is like looking at a fine, intricate porcelain glass vase through a window of a fancy store. It isn't something I would purchase; it seems overly flowery. I probably would like a very simple, honest opera (perhaps a modern opera? *Are* there modern operas? There must be! Heh heh...maybe those are called "musicals," about which I also have issues!) that doesn't involve murder or love relationships that seem heavy on passion but short on substance.

SaphiaGlam, have you seen the movie, The Audition, about opera singers trying out for the Met? I'm quite certain you must have since you are an opera singer! I felt the movie was excellent...seeing what opera singers go through to become famous was fascinating! Getting to know them a little as individuals by watching their stories and their progress makes me care more about the music they sing. Here's a YOUTUBE clip of the movie:



Oh, and a belated welcome to MB!

--Erica

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