by flit .
Member since:
August 11, 2006

Opera...ACK!

January 13, 2008 02:49 PM EST
views: 77 | comments: 46

On Monday, we will be watching a short film by Vincent Paterson -- a collection of five music videos by the choreographer and filmmaker famed for his Madonna and Michael Jackson music videos, his production of the musical numbers in Lars von Trier's film _Dancer in the Dark_, etc.  This time, the subject is an opera singer.

 

I am going to pay $40 for gas and drive 4 hours up and 3 hours back to go to class and watch a film with five music videos featuring an opera singer.

Of all the kinds of music videos there ARE in the world, he is using OPERA.

I detest - abhor - hate - despise - loathe - opera.

I think this would be a very good week to skip.

Except that I can't because I am meeting with the prof before class to talk about my paper and what I need to do to it to prepare it for publication.

Opera. Owie, owie owie!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Comments: 46

Tamara B. Jan 13, 2008, 2:51pm EST
lol
Eric (Don't Tread On Me) Spindler Jan 13, 2008, 2:52pm EST
Could be worse, you might be spending all that money to go see Oprah....ack!
Larry H. Jan 13, 2008, 2:55pm EST
wear ear plugs
flit . Jan 13, 2008, 2:55pm EST
could tune out Oprah → never have mastered the task of tuning out opera though... it just grates

I so do not get it.
David F. Jan 13, 2008, 2:55pm EST
As much as I love classical music, I'm not much of an opera fan either. It is all just so . . .overripe.
Vivian P. Jan 13, 2008, 2:56pm EST
could be Rap
sharon SugarMomma is a wise woman, Jan 13, 2008, 2:57pm EST
Oh but what if it was Katheleen Battle. She is the only one I like. It doesn't even bother me that I don't understand Italian, just her voice is enough.
flit . Jan 13, 2008, 2:58pm EST
7 hours driving for OPERA!
Ana S. Jan 13, 2008, 3:01pm EST
Oh don't be so closed mind..some opera is very good! LOL Besides it will enrich you! ;P
Peter Joseph Swanson Jan 13, 2008, 3:01pm EST
This last weekend I heard the opera Macbeth by Verdi live from the Met and it was very very cool.
Peter Joseph Swanson Jan 13, 2008, 3:02pm EST
Listen to Vivian P.

Count your blessings.

At least you'll hear beauty.
Juan J Martinez Jan 13, 2008, 3:03pm EST
I love all kinds of music, but I have never been able to sit through an Opera.
Mel B. Jan 13, 2008, 3:05pm EST
You never know what you will be able to get out of it. Perhaps taking a bit of Opera and mixing it with something else could prove to be a wonderful track..

Good Luck, I dont think you'll hate it as much as you think you will.
flit . Jan 13, 2008, 3:10pm EST
beauty is not supposed to hurt
flit . Jan 13, 2008, 3:11pm EST
I don't do any sort of music to begin with ...can go months without listening to any except for jingles & soundtracks
Sensational Sadie Sexy Senior Sitizen Jan 13, 2008, 3:12pm EST
Some opera isn't so bad Flit. Go with a positive attitude. You might find at least one of the five videos tolerable.
Laurun M. Jan 13, 2008, 3:12pm EST
I know what you mean. I appreciate the art of opera but it's not my forte. Vivian truly has a point. Just go with an open mind, maybe you'll like it.
Ann Weaver Hart Jan 13, 2008, 3:39pm EST
You can do anything for an hour that would appall you to do for the rest of your life. Perhaps it will grow on you. It's only a little while, and then you can go back to your silence. I would gladly do things I didn't like if it meant I could be in graduate school.
Grems 'gremlin' Jan 13, 2008, 3:59pm EST
Ear plugs...mend them strongly...do not do opera, never have. I love music, all kinds....I even like some opera singers when I hear them individually. Opera is not something I enjoy.
Lainie - Just Lainie Jan 13, 2008, 4:14pm EST
I actually enjoy opera! I don't know a whole lot of it but, from what I've heard and seen, it's great.

The way I've approached opera (when I was young and somewhat closed-minded) was, "This is sooooooo different." When I go in realizing that it's something completely out of my comfort zone, it somehow makes the experience more enjoyable. I'm probably psyching myself up for it or maybe I'm not hearing the opera because of the euphoria of experiencing something new.... I don't know. I just take pride in trying new things - even if they end up not being my cup of tea, at least I have the experience. : )
Kimberly Ripley Jan 13, 2008, 4:14pm EST
I've never been an opera fan. I sat through Carmen once and was bored to tears. Maybe you can bring an iPod and sneak in some earphones and tune the whole thing out??
flit . Jan 13, 2008, 4:19pm EST
LOL tempting... but no iPod either...and he would likely notice the earphones AND my failure to contribute to the discussion afterwards.

Guess I will just have to suffer.

Grumble. 7 hours of driving to make my ears bleed.
Janet "Jax" B. Jan 13, 2008, 4:48pm EST
I guess it will be naptime Flit...LOL
lynn a. Jan 13, 2008, 4:50pm EST
You do carry on. You will suffer, but your ears won't bleed. LOL. Seriously though, driving and expense to go listen to something you hate is the pits. I feel for you, Flit. And glad it's not me, Har, Har, Har. But look what you are going to get for it. In the long run it really will be music to your ears.
dianne j. Jan 13, 2008, 4:55pm EST
I have never been much of an opera fan either. I sat through The Magic Flute once, but didn't care for most of it. But there are some individual pieces that I find quite beautiful. Someday I will make a CD with just those pieces.

Good luck. It's only one class. And you might find one piece you can relate to.
I have a very "tiny" appreciation for opera. It could be worse. You could be attending a kazoo concert.
flit . Jan 13, 2008, 5:03pm EST
grems & I have come up with a way to make it tolerable... we decided that I should write a (Dr. Seuss) poem about the experience...while undergoing the torture... oh...I mean experience
Barb (Gather Site Ferret) Carlson Jan 13, 2008, 5:08pm EST
Is it going to be opera singing or just a music video featuring a singer who can do opera? Keep an open mind. Maybe it won't be so bad with some explanation. I don't like opera either. I don't understand what they're saying. Even the one or two I heard in English, I still couldn't understand what was said.
flit . Jan 13, 2008, 5:14pm EST
this prof played some opera for us in one class last semester....also SANG part of a song. I believe I might have winced.
suey v. Jan 13, 2008, 5:21pm EST
If you can get through shakeaphere you must be able to get through opera!
suey v. Jan 13, 2008, 5:22pm EST
Hey it could a shapearian(can't spell that) opera
flit . Jan 13, 2008, 5:30pm EST
LOL the new Shakespeare stuff is much easier... people actually survive it
Heather W. Jan 13, 2008, 6:33pm EST
Perhaps some mind altering drugs taken beforehand will help you enjoy it?
Carolyn Madden Jan 13, 2008, 6:37pm EST
"beauty is not supposed to hurt" hahaha. Lovely grumbling Flit. I recommend to you Terry Pratchett's discworld novel Masquerade. You just may feel more kindly toward opera after that. (Plus Nanny Ogg's sexually charged recipes are worth the read anyway..)
Tonia, who hugs trees G. Jan 13, 2008, 7:57pm EST
Ahhh, I am sorry but I can't relate. I adore opera, well, good opera that is. I hope this one has a voice like honey. That might make it a little more tolerable.
外国人 (Waiguoren) the Great Jan 13, 2008, 8:26pm EST
Can you reschedule the meeting with the professor and watch the videos at home? Unless there's a significant amount of classroom discussion, I don't see a reason to spend that much time on the road to watch videos.
David The Nighthawk B. Jan 13, 2008, 8:32pm EST
Sneak in an ipod. I used to do it during highschool all the time, never fails :)

Paint the earbuds the same colour as your hair (longish hair, or a high collar is needed), and all is well....

hehehehehe...
Linda G. Jan 13, 2008, 8:37pm EST
Oh, well might as well suffer through it
Wilma M. Jan 13, 2008, 10:45pm EST
I suggest very small earplugs and drugs.

Maybe you could take some very miniscule radio with even smaller ear pieces and listen to something else. Wear your hair down over the ear pieces.

One final note: Better you than me!!
Miz Lynn aka/BooBoo Jan 13, 2008, 11:58pm EST
HA! Actually I don't mind it, however I can only listen so long before it becomes like fingernails scratching on a chalkboard. Same thing goes for bagpipes!
flit . Jan 14, 2008, 7:39am EST
I actually don't mind bagpipes.... have positive associations for them.
William Dotani Jan 14, 2008, 8:04am EST
Tell the teacher you want to see a Les Patterson movie instead.
William Dotani Jan 14, 2008, 8:05am EST
The sound of Opera

cats
elizabeth e. Jan 14, 2008, 10:01am EST
I love opera. I just sit back, close my eyes, and picture myself the heroine singing my heart out to the lover who has forsaken me. Take a deep breath, relax, flit.....maybe if you just gave it a chance, you would find out just how moving opera can be.
flit . Jan 14, 2008, 6:06pm EST
that is hilarious, William!

me with prof before class and we talked about my essay and about the opera movie ...and about Freud and Marx and grad school and ...
Gloria J. Sep 27, 2008, 2:49am EDT
Keep an open mind. Not all operas or opera singers, or opera productions are the same. You may be pleasantly surprised. At least you'll know what you're talking about when you speak about it to your professor.

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