Try the Met this Saturday

This Saturday (Feb 10) the Met broadcast will be a pair of one-act operas, Cavalleria Rusticana, and Pagliacci.

There is not time to learn the plots, let alone the librettos, in detail.

However, it is not a bad strategy to become a bit familiar with the music of an opera prior to studying it in a serious way.

These operas are good ones for beginners because they are quite short. And, the music in these operas is tuneful and easy to listen to. The first will be recognized by those that have seen Godfather 3. The second contains what I think is the greatest of all tenor arias for pathos, “vesti la giubba.”

Therefore, people that are considering making the plunge into opera should consider tuning in. Go to your NPR station at 1:30 PM on Saturday. If you have more than one NPR station, it is usually the one that plays classical music.

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