It’s two in the morning, and I’ve accepted the fact that it’ll be awhile before I’m tired enough to fall asleep. In the meantime, I thought I’d write something…although, I’m sorta making this up as I go along. I figure I’ll try to make it at least somewhat interesting or eye-opening, maybe.
I get asked a lot about what I plan on doing with a degree in voice performance. I find that to be a silly question. Okay, I’ll admit, there are actually some performance majors I know of that really should be asked that question, because even I don’t know what in the world they plan on doing with it. Back to the subject, my major is voice performance, and thus, I plan on performing…with my voice. I plan on doing what it takes to make it one day, but I feel as if some of my peers really don’t feel like putting the effort in. Why would you not aspire to be the best? I want to be an opera singer when I grow up. That’s something you’d probably never expect, but then again, that’s the beauty of it. About two years ago, if someone had told me that this is where I’d be today, I probably would have said something like “You’re kidding, right?”
One thing that bothers me the most about my major is the multitude of people who are automatically under the assumption that I want to do musical theatre (for the record, I don’t enjoy musical theatre). I’m studying to be a classical singer, and as there are some similarities between broadway and opera, they are two completely different entities. This is where I should stop with this argument before I really start stepping on toes.
Okay, what I’m really trying to get to now is that it’s truly upsetting that opera is a dying art. It’s one art form that definitely deserves to stay in popular culture. I’ll give you a few reasons why you should appreciate opera:
- It’s intelligent, way more artistic that anything you’ll hear on the radio, or even on broadway for that matter, and the artistry that goes along with every aspect of this music is truly brilliant.
- It has remained basically changeless since its origins. That has to stand for something. When you attend an opera, you’re watching the same thing someone else watched 300+ years ago. The fact that it has stood the test of time has to amount for something.
- It takes incredible musicians and musicianship to make it possible.
- And lastly, the singing abilities of a classical singer are way more intense than that of say…Lady Gaga, or Jason Derulo, or the cast of Glee. A classical singer is responsible for having a sound that can completely fillup a concert hall like this one below, without the assistance of microphones or any sound equipment. It is completely raw. Also, I should point out that in order to fill a hall like this, a common misconception is that you would have to sing at the top of your lungs. The real way is just simply good technique, as opposed to yelling, or “belting”…one of the many differences between opera and musical theatre (usage of sound equipment is also a major difference). You can sing completely comfortably and still be able to reach the nose bleeds.
This is the Teatro alla Scala (or just La Scala for short). First of all, the magnificence of this hall is astounding. This is arguably the most prestigious opera house in the world. Built in the mid-to-late 1700′s this opera house, like many others later built, is an acoustic masterpiece. The most noticeable reason for this is the design of the seating. Stadium seating kills the sound, where as this bowl-shaped design is able to carry the singer’s voice without having to reach further back, row by row. Also there is no carpet between the stage and the seating boxes. (If you’re curious to know, there is orchestra level seating. They pull out chairs and set up rows in the blank space there in the middle).
To wrap this up, I’ll say this: if you went and actually saw an opera, you would really appreciate it. Everybody I know that hadn’t seen one before, changed their mind completely about it after seeing one. Opera is dramatic, entertaining, funny, and sad, just like everything else you watch on tv and see. The story lines are easy to follow and translations are provided. It’s also affordable. For instance, I saw Rigoletto at the TPAC last month for $9. La Scala, on the other hand, is a completely different story…haha.
It is now 3:40 Wow. I’m calling it a night. I feel like this ended up becoming a rant, then lecture…ehhh oh well. As long as it was somewhat enjoyable.
- Gute Nacht
R.Corbin Phillips
