Oh... Opera.. That's cool I guess....
“Wait… like the fat ladies?”
"That’s weird."
"Do you have to wear horns?"
Growing up, these were just a few of the reactions I heard when my friends found out I was leaving school early for a performance. It got to the point where I just stopped telling people.
I remember my senior year of high school when I was selected as one of four child soloists for the Philadelphia Orchestra’s performances of Shadows of Time by Henri Dutilleux. The recording here is from a wonderful performance by the L’Orchestra philharmonique de Radio France.
I was in and out of school for a couple of weeks because professional orchestras rehearse during the day and it was time for dress rehearsals. One of my friends was texting me and I just casually dropped that I was backstage at the Kimmel Center in my dressing room and she was shocked.
"Why didn’t you say anything?!"
At that age, people thought it was cool—unexpected, but cool. But as I got older, the curiosity turned into skepticism.
"What’s your real job going to be?"
"Yeah, but how are you going to make money?"
Even as a teenager, it made me sad to see how people lost their sense of wonder about art as they grew up. It almost made me want to fight against the idea of becoming an adult. Making a living in the arts is hard but that doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile. Music shaped me and I couldn’t walk away from it.
Opera, and vocal music in all its forms, is deeply human. People will sit through three-hour Marvel movies without question, but a three-hour opera? Suddenly, it’s “too long.” And yet, once you factor in IMAX tickets and overpriced snacks, you could have gone to the opera for the same price!
The thing is, opera isn’t just "fancy singing." It has everything: drama, dancing, orchestral music, powerful acting (sometimes incredible, sometimes hilariously over-the-top—but hey, that’s live theater). And while accessibility is a real issue, there are ways to experience it without spending a fortune.
Even when COVID forced so many artists into “safe” careers, it didn’t kill the love of art. If anything, it reinforced why we need it. Music, in all its forms, connects us. And while some people argue there are “bad” genres, the truth is, all music follows patterns that resonate with us on a fundamental level.
That’s why I love vocal music—all vocal music. Because you don’t just hear it. You feel it. The vibrations register in your body. It’s personal. It’s expression. And it’s for everyone.
So, if you’ve never explored opera before, maybe it’s time to give it a shot. You might just find yourself swept away.
And no… you don’t have to wear horns. 😉
Want to learn more about opera?
April’s Opera: The Marriage of Figaro is one of my absolute favorite! The Marriage of Figaro is a perfect mix of comedy, scandal, and razor-sharp social commentary that is somehow just as relevant today as it was almost 250 years ago. It’s a tale of wit, deception, and a nobleman who really just needs to cool his jets. While there’s no confirmed adultery, let’s be honest—all signs point to ‘he would if he could.’
Want to learn more about the story? Click Here to view the Met Opera’s Synopsis!
The video embedded here is from a production by the Royal College of Music. It features many lovely singers and is a great testament to the fact that if you have a local College of Music or Conservatory that it is VERY worth it to go see these productions to dip your toe into Opera.
Not only do you get to enjoy productions at a cheaper price (I will note that this is dependent on the school the production is taking place at but is usually more accessible price wise) it also gives the students who worked so incredibly hard on the production a larger audience!
Let’s Get Creative!
I've become increasingly aware of the need for artistic outlets beyond my primary discipline.
Exploring watercolors as an alternative form of creativity has been an unexpected lesson in patience, restraint, and the beauty of imperfection. I've learned that ‘perfect’ often looks completely different to me than it does to someone else—and that’s part of the magic.
This instructional book by Jola Sopek has been informative and digestible which are not things I ever thought I’d hear myself say about watercolor. While you can find many incredible instructional videos online, I wanted to share the item that had made my journey so enjoyable. I bought this at the MOMA in San Francisco but you can buy it on Amazon or other retailers.
If you haven’t taken time for yourself to create lately, consider this your sign to do so.
How do you make space for creativity?