January came and I decided that I really wanted to expand my appreciation and knowledge for some different things in life.
Besides reading more books, (which is a great way to do this actually) I wanted to experience something new, learn about something new, and actually appreciate something new.
This would have to do with music.
Now I like to think that I have a somewhat broad taste in music, I particularly love rock music from all the decades, Doo- Wop to Motown, R&B to Southern Boogie, Hard Rock and Soft Rock; and (My guilty pleasure of the early 80's, Michael Jackson's Thriller album, rather unacceptable in my hard rock high school days. Listen to Pop? No way! Big Hair bands all the way!)
I liked the New Wave sound, from the Talking Heads and Elvis Costello to Level 42 and New Order.
Having pre-teen girls a few years back I got drug into the whole Boy Band thing, and yes, I have seen the Backsteet Boys in concert.
Angry girl bands have been popular lately. My girls, the iTune queens are getting a step or two ahead of me these days with the new stuff for their ipods, although when one say's "Hey dad, did we get the new Pink song?" I say,"Yah, I got it already."
In the last few years I have taken to Evanescence, the Kaiser Chiefs, MCR, and I even got hooked on a catchy little song by HIM of all bands awhile back.
And of course, I will go see Rush until the day they stop touring.
That said, I come back to the original reason for this post.
You know how it is when you sit in fast and testimony meeting and you listen to a new convert who is on fire with their new testimony of the gospel and they want to share it with everyone?
That is how I feel now about my new music passion. It's not something that has come naturally to me. In fact I probably needed the 45 years of maturity to get to this point. Now I am definitely at that point and I can't get enough.
I really owe it to my SiriusXM radio. I can listen to it whenever I am in my truck, (I spend a lot of time in my work truck) and the station is XM79 Met Opera Radio.
That's right
opera.
I hardly listen to any other stations at this point in time.
The Met broadcasts several live operas throughout the week and the hostess does a wonderful job of explaining what is happening in each upcoming act.
I have discovered that I rather enjoy the Italian and German operas more that the ones in English (now I want to learn Italian) . I actually can understand quite a bit of the Italian ones due to my spanish/latin link.
I have several favorites now starting with Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore",
Dvorak's "Rusalka",(sung in Czech)
Verdi's "Aida","Macbeth", and "Il Travatore",
Puccini's "Tosca" and of course "La Boheme"
Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde"
Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and "The Marriage of Figaro"
Just to name a few.
Now I come home and look up new ones that I hear during the day and read biographies of composers.
So I say jump in with both feet! Don't wait 'til your 45! There is a reason that this music and singing style has withstood the test of time, it's rich, deep, layered, sad, funny, serious, and profoundly beautiful.
And yes I have several books on opera now.
Along with a whole new genre on my iPod.
I have to leave off now.
I have a listening appointment with my Met Opera radio.
