Music is a universal language and art form that stirs our emotions, connects us to memories and special moments, and speaks to our innermost being. It can take us to places beyond words. Even with lyrics in a different language, music touches us deeply. It reaches deeper than a mental understanding of words and touches us emotionally and spiritually.
Storytelling is also a universal language and art form. It has been a method of passing on information, teachings and traditions since the beginning of time. It connects us as humans. It speaks to our hearts. Storytelling can transport us to other places and times, just like music can. Just think about how lost you can become in a book, or the adventures you took as a child when you heard a story, or read one yourself.
Together, music and story create an intensely deep, powerful and emotional experience.
That's what we find in opera.
Lensmaster, Photahsiamirabel, shares her 20 reasons to love opera in the form of her favorite operatic tunes. As a musician and music educator, it's not just about enjoyment and experience. Lisa also knows a thing or two!
It's true that opera isn't for everyone. And I think it's a common thing for people to go through a period where they turn their nose up at it. I find it interesting that two universal and ancient art forms and methods of communication can seem so foreign! Even Photahsiamirabel writes, "As a teenager, I looked down my nose at opera. It was somehow removed from life as we know it, it didn't speak to my generation in the way that rock music did." After she learned about opera and experienced it in college, though, she had a different view: "All of a sudden I understood the acting and the business behind some of the most glorious music ever written."
And that's her purpose with this lens - - to inspire readers to think about opera in a new way.
So, give it a shot. If you already love opera, you'll enjoy listening to some of the most popular and powerful operatic music. If you're new to it, you might just develop a new appreciation!
Which of Lisa's 20 reasons to love opera is your favorite?
Visit: 20 Reasons to Love Opera
Leanne, I so believe in the power of music but know next to nothing about opera. Lisa's music lenses are always stellar and I hadn't seen this one. What a great idea to put together some of the best opera pieces to share. I listened to several and some were very familiar. It was good to read her interpretation of each piece.
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed a wonderful look by Lisa at opera and I agree with you both about the beauty of this music being something that tends to reveal itself over time. This lens also reminds me of something I took from a fantastic lens of your own (a personal all-time favourite of mine!) on Pachabel's Canon -- that even when we are not aware of it, classical music is all around us and its influence permeates even the most modern musical genres and pop culture as a whole. We may not all be able to immediately match the featured songs to the composer or opera but, as Kim reveals, we have heard most of them in other settings.
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