Opera information needed.?

Question

I've been working on a project that involves information about the opera world, if you will. But I do not know that much about it so I need insights on:
A. what's popular now
B. Who was popular in the year 1849 or around then
C. Are there opera competitions if so where and when
D. anything else that may be useful
Thanks

Answer 1

Hi, you're in for a treat, as there is so much in the opera world that's fun.
A. The big favs remain so:
The Marriage of Figaro ( Le Nozze di Figaro) by Mozart
The Magic Flute ( Die Zauberfloete) also by Mozart
Aida by Verdi
La Traviata by Verdi
Carmen by Bizet
La Boheme by Puccini
Tosca by Puccini
The Knight of the Rose ( Der Rosenkavalier) by Strauss
just for starters...
B the big hits in the 1840's were those named above by Mozart
Fidelio by Beethoven
Orfeo e Eurydice by Gluck
Der Freischutz ( there's no suitable English translation of this) by Weber
a whole pile of works, too numerous to list by the Italian stars Giacchino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini, and Gaetano Donizetti, who were flourishing in that era
the beginning works of Verdi, notably Nabucco
the beginning works of Wagner, at that point Lohengrin.
C the Met remains the biggest US competition, with various, more local events around the US. In Europe there are certainly many more. Most of them impose an age limit-usually 30 yrs for the women, and up to 35 for the men, notably the basses.
You would need to go on line to Opernwelt magazine here in Germany for their dates and places, and the corresponding union and non-union magazines for the rest of Europe.
D. Many colleges and Universities around the US have excellent music departments, consistently educating fine singers, as well as the handful of private conservatories. This is also true in Europe, but I'm afraid I have no current information about things in the Far East, where fabulous singers are appearing on the opera scene.

Answer 2

Hello,

The classics are still worth looking at, such as Carmen by Bizet, or The Magic Flute, by Mozart. The most popular operas are the one that are the most enduring.

Answer 3

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