Why I've started this blog

This blog is a response to the infinite amount of times I’ve been asked,

“I don’t know anything about opera - where do I begin?”

Coming from central Pennsylvania, I did not initially have much opportunity to listen to opera. Ultimately, I came into contact with it like many people do: through voice lessons. When my teacher eventually assigned me an Italian art song (a classical song) and had an opera-watching party, I was spellbound and proceeded to buy and listen to anything I could get my hands on from libraries and thrift stores!

So while my classmates were jiving to Usher and Black Eyed Peas, I was hooked on the NPR Saturday live-broadcast of operas at the Metropolitan Opera. I indiscriminately listened to the beautiful voices singing beautiful music and couldn’t understand why people weren’t obsessed with it like I was!

As I got more serious about singing, I became more versed with the operatic repertoire through summer music programs and performing opera scenes. I just couldn’t get enough of it. After graduating with a degree in classical voice, I set up a teaching studio in New York. My references were often met with stares, and I realized that many of my students have very little knowledge of opera, even though that’s what I’m teaching them…so I hope that will change!

I’m not a professional opera historian, but I do want more people, my voice students

particularly, to know more about it.

Accordingly, I’m mostly concerned about having the music and a few facts about opera in my viewers’ heads. For the rest of your unanswered questions: Wikipedia.

The operatic repertoire is huge, but you really do start with one small

recording/performance at a time.

My aim is that this blog would fairly represent the HUGE variety in opera. I’m also looking forward to being able to answer that opening question through linking them to this blog hehehe.

Enjoy!

-Robert