Trisha

I could sure use some help in this decision. My husband and I never have been to an Opera before . We had shows planned for next week when we go to NYC but, one show we had planned was cancelled so, that leaves us open for another show decision. I thought about an Opera(my husband protests though) and am considering the Lucia Di Lammermoor. I wanted to know if that's a good one to see (especially for opera virgins). My husband doesn't really want to do it but, I'm thinking he just never has done it and will like it once he gets there. Anyway, any help or suggestions will be so helpful. We will be in NYC Dec.21st through the 28th. Thanks!

bennnie

I went to the Metropolitan Opera for the first time this Nov. It was a wonderful experience and I can't wait to go again. Here is a link to the thread that I started when I asked a similar question as yours. There are many very helpful tidbits. Also on the Met's website there is a lot of information about the various operas and what to expect. We saw Aida and loved it. We got the libretto and a cd with excerpts of the music so that we would be familar with it before we went.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...=bennnie&fid=1

Have a great time - its so worth it just to be able to say you did it once.

mclaurie

I am not a big opera fan, so I sympathize with your husband. I can't imagine making him go if he really doesn't want to. There are so many other wonderful options, why have marital discord?

On the Met's own website, they say the following:

"There are several operas in The Met’s 2005-2006 season that are appropriate for those without much operatic experience. Puccini’s La Bohème and Tosca, and Verdi’s La Traviata, are relatively short operas, full of tunes with great dramatic flow, and are presented in visually magnificent productions by the Italian director Franco Zeffirelli. In addition, Verdi’s Rigoletto, Johann Strauss’s wonderful operetta Die Fledermaus (with dialogue in English) and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (in an acclaimed production by Julie Taymor, director of the Broadway hit, The Lion King) are all especially suitable for those new to opera. This list is completed with the inclusion of two operas by Donizetti: the comedy L’Elisir d’Amore, and the tragedy Lucia di Lammermoor. "

This suggests to me L. di L. is the least newbie friendly of the bunch.

It's impossible to recommend other options w/o knowing your tastes or what you're already seeing. "Doubt" is a "must" if it's not already on your list. For sheer fun, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."

If you go to nycvisit.com you can select your date or dates and either music or theater and get other ideas.

If none of these interest you, how about a cabaret show or off Broadway?

marilynl

Lucia Di Lammermoor is a great example of bel canto, or "park and bark," type singing. The vocal flights of Lucia during her mad scene are amazing! We saw this fairly early in our opera-going experience (which is still only a few years old), and were lucky enough to see the gorgeous French soprano Natalie Desay in the title role.

You can't go to an opera expecting the plot to make any kind of sense, but if you can experience pure emotion through the beauty of music, you might fall in love.

bgans

The New York Times reviewed this production early in the season, for what it's worth.



http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/29/ar...d0c318&ei=5070

ekscrunchy

The Met is such a fantastic venue that I would say "go." However, Lucia is not a great opera for first timers, in my opinion. If there is any chance you can go to one of the operas mentioned on the Met's site that McLaurie so kindly posted, you may find them more accessible. But if Lucia's the only option, take a chance!!

HowardR

I would definitely NOT recommend Lucia di Lammermoor for a non-opera lover. Unless one or the more popular operas--Carmen, La Traviata, La Boheme or Madame Butterfly, for example--are available, I would seek another form of entertainment for that evening.
Sure, the Met experience is wonderful, but you'll be spending a lot of money and, based on your comments, the chances of your husband enjoying himself are slim.

Intrepid1

Frankly, it is impossible to recommend any operas with certainty "not knowing your tastes" but as you can see we are trying to help anyway.

If your husband doesn't want to experience an opera then I wouldn't force him to do so, no matter which one is playing; although, you may get lucky and he will end up enjoying it so I understand the reasoning.

My recommendation is this: no matter which one you see, make certain you are familiar with the story first and do not rely on the sir/subtitles. You can usually get a good summary with the help of Google and this will make a major difference in the enjoyment levels IMO.

bob_brown

As an opera goer, I suggest Die Fledermaus. The others in the time frame you stated are not my idea of something for a first timer, or even a second timer. Die Fledermaus is funny, great music, and it is not all singing. There is quite a bit of spoken dialogue. In the Met production, the performance is in German but with English subtitles on a screen. In German, the language in which I have heard it the most, you better know the plot and have memorized the arias and duets if you want to follow it.

I think that is what puts people off at times. Hearing an opera with a high level of appreciation and understanding demands preparation, knowledge of the language, and an appreciation of the art form.

If your husband does not want to go, let him take in a burlesque show somewhere.

Trisha

I do so appreciate your comments . This is why I read this forum and depend on it so much because everyone is helpful. I do want to see an Opera sometime but, agree it should be the right one.
I'm still researching and looking for an alternative. Thanks, for your time and advice.

Scarlett

My first Opera was Sicilian Vespers!! Talk about Opera shock!
Then I saw Faust...good very good.
Then I saw Carmen ( which is one of my favorite ballets)...and now my favorite Opera.
I got to see Pavarotti sing The Elixir of Love (Donizetti)-that is great for an Opera Newbie!

dsquared

Trisha, if your husband is likely to be a good sport if he doesn't enjoy it and say "OK, been there, done that" then go for it!

I agree with bob brown though: Die Fledermaus. Easier to get into and fun.

"You can't go to an opera expecting the plot to make any kind of sense" Marilyn how true! I remember hearing Gerard Schwartz - Seattle Symphony's conductor - saying something to the effect that the silliness of opera plots is exceeded only by the silliness of ballet plots.

helen63

I also agree with Bob and Dsquared on choice of Die Fledermaus. Lucia is great (expecially with Natalie Decay), but I dont't think it is a good choice for a fist opera. Die Fledermaus is the operetta, so it is not really a classical opera, it is very fun, and the music is impossible not to fall in love with. My son has never been to opera (he is 22), and I am taking him to see Die Fledermaus in two weeks. A lot of my friends who don't enjoy classical opera, really like operretas being Die Fledermaus one of the favorites.

Trisha

Thanks again for your suggestions. I can't do Die Fledermaus because it doesn't show on a night I have open.
I have decided to play it safe and try for a cabaret show. Any suggestions for that? The show that we had planned on was Sinatra Saturdays at the Carnegie Club but, they canceled. I do appreciate them calling me to tell me. We were disappointed because, we wanted to hear that type of singing so, I have been researching but, haven't found anything similiar. Thanks , so much for your help!

marilynl

Andrea Marcovicci at the Algonquin? I think I read she was singing World War II love songs through the end of he year.

mclaurie

So is this for Christmas Eve? What about Alvin Ailey dance at City Center? If it's for this Sat., look at Tierney Sutton at Birdland. I think Michael Feinstein is at Feintein's this Sat.