why do people hate opera?

Question

i like it.

Answer 1

I adore opera! I think a lot of folks feel threatened when they think something is over their heads. The language thing gets a lot of people. And some think it's over the top. well, some of it is: Wagner comes to mind. To enjoy opera, one must know something about the story. Continue to encourage people to be open-minded, and learn something about the genre, and if attending an opera for the first time, read up on the story and the composer ahead of time. And don't worry about not understanding the language. Pay attention to the facial expressions of the singers, read the notes in the program, and just get into the sheer beauty of the music. Opera is so beautiful, it can make me cry!

Answer 2

I don't think it's hatred for opera. It's just indifference and ignorance, especially with Americans. Most of the great operas are either in Italian or French, and not a lot of Americans speak those languages. And I'm referring especially to the real 'freedom fries' Americans. If you can't understand the story, why see the opera?

Also, Americans don't have an ear for Classical music anymore. They don't know how to appreciate chord prorgessions and clever key changes and counterpoint, and so on and so on. They don't understand basic theory. The elite that attended opera in the Classic and Romantic Era usually understood at least some basic theory and could read music.

Also, Americans today are bombarded by popular imagery and music. Their money goes toward an image and a predesigned package which is called pop music. And this is what they listen to, because this is what they know.

Answer 3

I have found that the majority of people who don't like opera have never seen an entire opera - they have just heard some arias, etc., or they simply tried to listen to one on a CD rather than going for the entire experience.

Answer 4

I have no idea. I think it is beautiful music better than that rubbish on the radio. I don't listen to any current music. This is the way I've always been, sometimes teased for that in school. And I am in America, so you can't say all Americans don't like it, I do! :) I like to listen to old Italian Opera, it sounds so beautiful and sad. But it might be that I like Classical because of my ballet experience...

Answer 5

Opera, like classical music, is no longer included in a classical education. Children in america are exposed to commercials and pop music which do not develop their brains to the capacity needed to appreciate the complexities of classical music such as opera. Opera is more of an acquired taste, an educated one.

Answer 6

Maybe because they don't understand the story form. I mean Opera is a different style of story telling. More broad ranged and for the mature mind. There's a class to it. The music. The design and even the eloquence. You'd really have to pay attention to the background pieces, I would assume...

=)

Answer 7

i think it's one of those art forms that has so much bravado it's easy to feel like it's a lot of hot air, unless you get into the story, can understand the language, and actual enjoy watching people who know how to strut their stuff and strut it well. I like singing, I like costume and lighting, and I love a good story. Still, it's rare I can get around the pretensiousness. People who think opera rocks might find, i dunno... bmx racing celebrities ridiculous. They're just riding around on bikes, for crying out loud! They're gettin paid millions for THAT? Let's hear them hit a high C when they pull a superman 40 feet in the air next time, THENNN I'll buy a ticket!

Answer 8

I love opera! I think alot of people are afraid to open up to new things.

Answer 9

i don't like. it. i dont hate it either, it's just a type of music that i dont care that much about when i hear it, like jazz or rock. opera is classical, which i like, but i dont like music with singing in it because the words get stuck in my head, no matter what kind of gibberish it is to me.

Answer 10

Closed Minded.