Comic Operas

"The Barber of Seville" is one of the more well-known operas in the general public, like "La Boheme" or "Porgy and Bess"(technically an operetta, but it still counts).  "Barber" is a comic opera written by Rossini.  Its technical term is "opera buffo".  That was free. 

I thought maybe I was just being an uncultured snob at the time, but I did not like "Barber".  Not at all.  Recently, I added "La Cenerentola" (Cinderella) to the Netflix  queue.  It is also an opera buffo written  by Rossini.

The first time I watched it, I disliked it, but not terribly.  This was the night before the ACT, so obviously, I was too preoccupied to make an accurate judgement.  I watched it again, this time finding it amusing and fun to listen to.  The rapid-fire diction is insane.  The story is basically that of Cinderella, sans the godmotherfairypersonthing.  But it still lacked any depth.

The reason I love opera is its passion.  Its pure, unabated passion.  The characters pouring their hearts out through song.  I would rather cry than laugh with an opera.

I would listen to "La  Cenerentola" again, but it did not move me.  I love operas like "La Boheme", "Tosca", and "Aida"; the ones with heartbreak, death, lust, love, and patriotism.  Passion.  I have no objection to laughing(who wouldn't at least smile at Musetta's Waltz or Tosca's wild suspicions?) but I would rather be moved than entertained.

There lies the primary difference between buffo and non-buffo(technical, huh?) operas.  Passion.

Singers(most musicians, for that matter) are either crazy or passionate.  Why else would we spend hours to produce a sound?  Think about it.  We spend time making noise.  Noise that doesn't make substantial amount of money.   That we might even lose money on.  And yet, we keep on doing it, because we love it.  This love is undefinable, but is either craziness or passion.  Maye both.

I would watch another opera buffo, but I need my deeper Puccini and Verdi to really keep me going.