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June 6, 2009 This article is meant for people who do not listen to classical music and who know little or nothing about it. Have you ever been to a concert by a symphony orchestra, or attended an opera performance, or a recital by a pianist, or heard a string quartet perform? If not, why not try classical music, live or recorded? There are symphony orchestras and opera companies all over America, and in all 50 states. And it's never been easier to get classical CDs and DVDs. In addition, classical music can easily be heard over the internet and on the radio. It's never been easier to hear and enjoy classical music. So why aren't you jumping at the chance? Could it be that you've heard that classical music is stuffy, boring and "elitist", and that it's just not "cool" to listen to it? Do you think that if you go to an opera performance you'll see and hear fat people in ridiculous Viking costumes shouting at each other while rich, bored people sit in their boxes showing off their jewelry and furs? If so, you're dead wrong! Everything you've heard about classical music is false ! Don't attend performances of classical music to get "culture". If you want culture, eat yogurt! The only reason to listen to classical music is because it's enormously enjoyable. It's not boring at all. Otherwise, why would people all over the world,not just Europe and America, flock to concerts and opera? And they most certainly do. There is so much terrific music by so many classical composers, not just"Dead White European Males". Sure, music by these DWEMs is an important part of classical music, there are many important living composers, including LIVING white European males, women, blacks, Asians and Latin Americans. Clasical music was multicultural long before multiculturalism became fashionable! Sure, it's best to get familiar with the music of such greats as Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Rachmaninov, Sibelius, and other famous composers. But there's so much to explore and get to love. Music going back from centuries ago to the present day. Take opera. This 400 year old art form is more popular in America than ever before. There are more opera companies than ever before in the US, more, in fact than in any other country. Opera is music plus drama,when these two combine, it's magical, and audiences everywhere are thrilled by the synergy they create. Opera isn't silly at all. It deals with love,hate, revenge, murder, lust, ambition, politics, courage, forgiveness, and the whole human condition. And there are also operas that are hysterically funny! And many opera singers today, aren't fat and ridiculous-looking at all. In fact, there are famous opera stars today, such as Renee Fleming, Anna Netrebko, Angela Gheorghiu, Juan Diego Florez, Joonas Kaufmann, and others who are absolute stunners physically. And boy, can they sing! No wonder audiences go wild. There a many, many live opera performances that have been captured on DVD, and most come with English subtitles, and the world-famous Metropolitan opera now broadcasts some of its performances in High Definition into movie theaters everywhere for far less than live tickets. What are you waiting for?
Classical music, whether orchestral,operatic or of whatever kind can make your life more interesting and enjoyable. And you can easily all kinds of information about it by googling.
A former free lance French hornist who has performed with numerous orchestras, opera companies, concert bands and chamber music ensembles. Also a former substitute music teacher at varous public schools. Has served as music critic for student newspapers at Queens college and Hofstra university and currently involved in music appreciation programs for people with diabilities and the elderly and infirm. Has performed in Italwy, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa.
Classical music blog The Horn, at blogiversity.org. Discusses all aspects of classical music, orchestral, operatic, chamber music etc, music history, theory, current events, composers, conductors, instrumentalists, singers etc, and much more.
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