“Opera is for the older generation” – a statement that’s generally thrown around by younger people in this day and age. How often is a Tik Tok video accompanied by opera music? Does opera ever find a home for itself on Instagram reels? When those tunes start booming in a passing car, is it ever opera?
Some people find my love for opera “quite peculiar”, especially as a young woman writes Cape {town} Etc’s Leigh-Ann Londt. Some have called it “bizarre” while others have reacted with a facial expression that didn’t even require words to tell the tale. If looks could kill, right?
Opera is a form of theatre that I always had an interest in. The singer expresses deep emotion beautifully in a lyrical way that tugs at my heart strings (and often leaves me teary-eyed). The thought of one song being so powerful yet gentle still blows my mind.
On some days I’ll take a long walk, plug in my headphones and enjoy the sounds of opera music – a real treat that feeds my mind and soul. On other days, I’ll enjoy a hot bath with a few Andrea Bocelli songs playing in the background.
This kind of culture is what our young society lacks – an ear to appreciate all types of music instead of only listening to the next song that rattles your windows while they are driving past, or watching the next best rapper on TV, often surrounded by hoards of cash and some women dancing in the background.
Opera teaches you to appreciate life in its true form, like its own version of art through music. Opera portrays an entire story through the form of music. My biggest dream is to visit the opera house in Sydney, Australia.
My favourite opera singers are Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti and Sondra Radvanovsky to name a few. It’s all about the culture of opera, the instruments heard, and the voice that completes the song. So my opinion is no, opera is not only for the older generation. Here’s one of my favourite opera videos of all time by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman:
Picture: Pinterest