The rather interesting site about writing and writers, Bookarazzi has a monthly update on opportunities to see authors in action and news of what they're up to - see the site for details.
If I'm honest, the title of this post is an exaggeration to make a point. I don't really hate opera. There are a couple of operas - notably Monteverdi's Incoranazione di Poppea and Purcell's Dido & Aeneas - that I quite like. But what I do find truly sickening is the reverence with which opera is treated, as if it were some particularly great art form. Nowhere was this more obvious than in ITV's 2010 gut-wrenchingly awful series Pop Star to Opera Star , where the likes of Alan Tichmarsh treated the real opera singers as if they were fragile pieces on Antiques Roadshow, and the music as if it were a gift of the gods. In my opinion - and I know not everyone agrees - opera is: Mediocre music Melodramatic plots Amateurishly hammy acting A forced and unpleasant singing style Ridiculously over-supported by public funds I won't even bother to go into any detail on the plots and the acting - this is just self-evident. But the other aspects need some exp...
Imagine a happy bunny ...
ReplyDeleteBTW - word verification is colingod. Any idea who Colin is?
Colin... Colin... Colin Baker? Surely not. Colin Dexter?
ReplyDeleteHi Brian - just come across your blog! Is Upgrade Me coming out in the UK any time soon - if not I'll import...it looks fascinating.
ReplyDeleteClare -
ReplyDeleteYou can get it in the UK from Amazon. In fact if you go to http://www.brianclegg.net/indexaaaaaaa.html, follow the link to Amazon.co.uk, then go to 'More Buying Choices' on the right you can buy it direct from me (Creativity Unleashed) cheaper than usual AND signed!
Cheers,
Brian