The Birth & Life of Opera

"I am Music. I calm every troubled heart. Now with anger. Now with love. I can inflame the coldest mind."

The effect of music on the human mind and heart is powerfully timeless. As John Adam's, director of "Nixon in China" puts it, Opera is the ideal art form for dealing with BIG issues, more so than the average film or novel which is too realistic.
You can't help but get goosebumps every time you hear the chilling scales of heartfelt pleas and see the performer's faces, rich with emotion, eyes flooded with passion as their voices magically grow stronger and stronger.
The dramaticism of Opera, the intertwined mediums of poetry, song, music, dance, design- make it a magical art form to become lost in. Opera is a much deeper experience, spellbindingly RICH with heartfelt  excitement and passion. It's a safe haven for people to unleash their minds and let the unfolding stories comfort their hearts which have endured similar trials and tribulations.

Howard Goodall's production of "The Birth and Life of Opera" beautifully tells the evolution of the form and details just how much it influenced and continues to mold and thrive in ever changing society.

As Goodall describes in the opening, "Opera is unlike any other because it is "the form in which music interfaces with the real world. The history of opera is stained with the blood of revolutions".

We see Opera as a National Identity. Born in Florence 400 years ago, brought to Manchua to flourish under the direction of Monteverde, it was the 1607 production of LorFeo that rocketed Opera to success.

The story of a husband traveling to the underworld to save his wife and bring her back, using only the charms of his magical voice, symbolized a human manifesto: our creation of beautiful things in society can bring us closer to divine perfection.

As Goodall's documentary unfolded I was not necessarily surprised, but still slightly taken aback by just how connected opera was to the political world. A MAJOR influence in history, used as propaganda, the cause for outbreak in societies, the inspiration for liberation and deliverance, and still to this day, a classic art form of society where people go to enrich their minds, melt their hearts and escape their woes.

I agree with Goodall's point that Opera is he parent of musicals and the two work well together, not against each other. Musicals are the first step leading to the appreciation, acceptance and admiration of the final destination, Opera.

In today's society, even if we don't actively view shows, the magical songs follow us so we can't help but recognize familiar pieces. I'm loving that I'm learning contextually, more about Opera and can recognize the songs that never fail to give me goosebumps or bring me to tears.