“Now I listen to classical and opera almost exclusively.”
I love Classical, and so does Zaza. He’s a Classically trained musician. I love the music in opera, but can’t handle the singing. It’s a style from before pa systems, and, to me, sounds like people bellowing at the top of their lungs in a foreign language. Just doesn’t work for me! 8^)
Opera singers use NO "pa" system, no mikes, ever. They wouldn't be opera singers if they needed mikes and pa systems.
Their orchestras are right below them in the orchestra pit. THAT is part of being an opera singer. They don't "bellow"; that is "Las Vegas" singing.
An opera singer has to be able to SING, not bellow, to the last row in the balcony...even when the music calls for "softly."
Subtitles have been a part of opera for decades now. So there's no reason not to understand the words.
Opera makes one laugh, cry weep, get goosebumps from the beauty of the music...and carries one away. Not all the composers wrote GREAT stuff all the time, but when they did, my, oh my.
American soprano, Beverly Sills said that her own singing send chills of delight up her back. She was AB-FAB!
--Mozart's operas and music sound like they're coming straight from heaven.
--Verdi's operas give me goosebumps.
--Puccini's operas make me weep at the beauty of the music and arias.
--Wagner's operas are so beautiful that they carry me away to Valhalla.