Dana - much ~ma for your mom.

Hooray Lee dog!

DH's parents treated me to my first opera last night. I discovered about five minutes in that, either due to the overwhelmingly pejorative costuming, the translation/libretto being so over the top, and the plot being essentially 'don't talk to women, they are evil' with added 'my insta-love stopped talking to me for the night, my life is over, I shall kill myself' that it is possible to rage blackout over the classics. My inlaws have no idea I didn't like it as much as they did. They never will. Too bad I know what the music says now. I used to like some of the arias.

I am obviously an ungrateful cretin. Anyone have a favorite opera that isn't The Magic Flute?

Do it, Zen! Worst case scenario, you've watched Serenity, right?

Have fun with your new dog, Lee!

I got my lease renewal in the mail, and I have to decide in three weeks if I'm going to move August 1. The rent is going up $150/month, which brings it to the upper end of the general amount I can expect to pay for the kind of apartment I want. Hmmm.

Anyone have a favorite opera that isn't The Magic Flute?

I like La Boheme and La Traviata. No more feminist than your average Victorian entertainment, but they do have interesting women and beautiful music.

At least you know you like the movie, right Zen? Maybe it'll be fun, and if it isn't it won't last forever and you never have to see those people again if you don't want to.

I listen to opera (when I do, which isn't often) by completely ignoring whatever the words might mean. I enjoy it more if it's just sound.

Agreed about the movie, and agreed about opera too!

Last week Owen told me he wanted to see a therapist because he feels angry. Mostly at his sister. I assured him this was pretty normal but that we would look into it. Today, I found a link on my tablet.

[link]

Tosca, La Boheme, The Italian Girl in Algiers, Carmen, anything Puccini--I love the whole package, I don't worry too much about the actual story. And if I've got a Callas recording, I just listen to her voice and grin.

Anyone have a favorite opera that isn't The Magic Flute?

Tosca. Not a happy story, but a good one with a memorable lead character, and some awesome set pieces.

Edit: Pretty much what Connie said about Puccini. Another Puccini one that's actually hilarious is 'Gianni Schicchi.' It's also short.

Aw, Owen.

I like classical music and sung music, and I generally don't like opera. I don't like the style of singing and the usual tone. I tried! I took a class in college and everything. So I don't worry about it anymore.

So I don't worry about it anymore.

I found out that, with some exceptions, I far prefer sung classical music to straight symphonic. But I do not like art songs, I like bits from operas and oratorios. Considering there's as much variation in classical music as there is in modern music, I don't think anyone should have to like everything.