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.
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.
7 comments:
Interesting Scott. I admit that I have liked much of the Opera that I have heard, but have not sought it out in any way.
It sounds like listening on the xm radio, with explainations is the way to go.
This is just another reason why I have always known you were "The Coolest" brother a girl could ever have.
A couple of weeks ago I found XM79. I used to listen to another one up in the 100's, but I think it disappeared when the whole SiriusXM thing happened. Anyway, you are awesome, and I will be listening and wondering if you are doing the same too. Except, I recently found XM44 and have been getting my 80's KROQ fix, so I might be over there as well.
Inspiring! I don't have satellite radio, but I should start looking online for stuff to listen to.
When I did a study abroad in Vienna several years ago I went to the opera almost every week (it was about $2 for standing room). I thought the same, that I had been missing out on it all these years. Then I got back to real life in the U.S. where going to the opera costs a little more...plus the cost of babysitting! Anyway, no excuses, I should really check some of these out! Thanks for the post.
Yes Karen the hostess Margaret Jundtwaite (sp?) makes a real difference in being able to grasp what is going on in the live broadcasts from the Met as well as the recorded ones.
They have over 75 yrs of recorded operas from the Met that they broadcast throughout the week. It is nice to be able to experience some of the great talents from years back.
Amy, do great minds think alike or what? Despite all I wrote I still have to change gears occasionally, especially on Friday when it is time to get in the weekend mind frame. I found the First Wave channel right after they made the change. It’s great to hear Richard Blade, and who can miss the Saturday Night Safety Dance!
Eliza, that is really taking in the culture! It would be hard to beat Vienna for experiencing opera!
You have to take advantage of the area you live in! DC has to have some opera performances during the year. I would head to New York once or twice if I were out there. You can get what they call family seats at the Met for $15.00, but you are right, after that they jump to $65 and up.
Fresno has like 2 performances a year. The next one is Faust and I am going.
You've got style!
our so cool!
Iam into lily allen right now, but you have to buy at walmart to keep it all clean!
Harry and I bought season tickets this year to the LA Opera - we had gone to La Boheme and Porgy and Bess the previous season and were psyched to be inspired.
We have either had conflicts or the opera was bad - they did a new one, The Fly - bad! We left at intermission.
And then they put one in a modern setting - didn't work - I don't even remember the name of that one.
And we will be in Boston for the last one in the season.
So we are not buying season tickets this year.
Maybe we will spend the money on CD's.
And we still love opera!
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