Am I unusual to find opera excruciatingly difficult to listen to?

There is no such thing as "opera"! The Marriage of Figaro is different from King Roger and Carmen is different from Rheingold. I happen to prefer Mozart, Wagner and Philip Glass to Puccini and Donizetti, but many people adore Italian Bel Canto singing and that's fine.

Thanks and appreciation to you, watermeadow and luckygirl:I find the soprano vibrato painful, like a buzz saw trying to cut into my brain. So good to hear I'm not alone!

Dad's greatest love was Sinatra, I loathed his "singing" too-again, as you have just made me see, it's the, "that note's around here somewhere and I will land on it if I keeeeep trying"
Bless you both! xx

Davidhs I must disagree that opera is snob value. True, there are a minority of people who just want to do what seems the thing to do, like people going to the races for show, but most opera lovers are that, genuine opera lovers.

Cannot stand opera as growing up a neighbour would bombard us & everyone near with opera all day at weekends! Put me right off but then I do tend to try to convert my neighbours to Rock music with Planet Rock on all day & whacked up when they play Status Quo. As I have been told for years no one sane likes ! So guess it is the same with opera lovers, each to his/her own!

I love opera and enjoy women singing the arias. My mum could not bear all that screeching, as she called it. Most operas I have seen have been on TV. I have only been to two on stage, as I live far away in the country.

I don't know if you are unusual in disliking opera, but I find you rude in the way you express your dislike.

You do not have to have "been subjected to opera in the womb" to like it.

Many people have taught themselves to enjoy opera and other forms of classical music, and as a general rule we do not denigrate other peoples' taste.

Opera is a theatrical performance; it needs to be watched as well as listened to.

I loathe opera - who sings when they are dying??

Try Googling Opera North in Leeds Shopping Centre - the joy on everyone’s face watching says they’re enjoying the singing - not snobby at all!

I love Andrea Bocelli ! But he’s the only one! Not keen on any other opera singer male or female. My pet hate is musicals. I always get startled when they break into song and find it a bit excruciating.

georgesgran DH and I just stood in the kitchen and watched that and had to wipe our eyes. Wonderful!

PamelaJ you reminded me of a sketch Billy Connolly once did about Opera. It was hilarious. I'm sure it's on youtube somewhere.
Some opera I find enjoyable, some not. I went to see Turandot and apart from Nessun Dorma I found it totally boring. The particular example you mention I enjoyed although that might be because I remember being there in Lucca. Wonderful memory.

I love opera. Was taken to see La Boheme when I was twelve.La Traviata, Otello, etc. although they have sad endings. Also classical ballet.
I like classical music, some jazz, Frank Sinatra, thirties big band from my childhood but cannot stand the latest pop which is just a load of noise and you cannot hear the words.

My mother loved opera. I used to go with her to keep her company and tried really hard to like it but I'm more Billy Joel than Pavarotti. When the singers burst into song I always wanted to laugh.

grandtanteJE65

I don't know if you are unusual in disliking opera, but I find you rude in the way you express your dislike.

You do not have to have "been subjected to opera in the womb" to like it.

Many people have taught themselves to enjoy opera and other forms of classical music, and as a general rule we do not denigrate other peoples' taste.

Oh dear.

Oh dear

Yes PamelaJ grandtante's comment was not very kind .

I used to be kind of anti both opera and ballet until someone advised me to really buff up on the plots before listening and to learn what the various moves and gestures meant in the dancing world. What a difference this made to me and I now rather enjoy both. Not all, of course but it was a tip I really appreciated.

Just because someone bursts into song does not necessarily mean they have a good voice. I used to be a choral vocalist in a well known Cathedral in the U.K. I love opera highlights but don’t want to sit through a whole opera. Menopause robbed me of my singing voice and I can’t be bothered having training for it now as you have to keep that up more so being older. . I used to be 2nd Soprano but would qualify as Alto now. There are some younger women’s speaking voices which I’m glad I’m not housed next to and if on the TV have to switch them off! There are some famous male singers that I don’t rate their voices that other people rave over but that’s just me. I listen to hear cracks in their voices wobbly notes and mis pitching and cringeworthy high notes....quite entertaining really if you have that sort of ear..

There's good and bad in all music.
Some of the modern stuff just makes me want to be sick.
Ballet is useful exercise at any age. Keeps me fit.

It depends on the music. Some arias would make me cry because they are so beautiful. Maria Callas had a certain timbre to her voice that was easier on the ear than some. But in general, I prefer the men's voices.

Opera has always been in my life courtesy of Dad. His favourite was Rigoletto by Verdi. It later transpired that he first saw it at La Scala, Milan towards the end of WW2. Over the years I became familiar with his favourite composers and saw a number of productions but I can’t stand Wagner. My favourite is still Rigoletto and favourite production by Jonathan Miller. He transported it to New York gangsters in the 1930s, produced by ENO ( in English).

Surely, it’s each to their own. Modern jazz is a major dislike but I’ve been making friends more recently with Country and Western.

Compilations of any music is a really good introduction. There are plenty of free play lists around if you feel like giving anything a try.

So use the mute button and save us from your thoughts on opera.
There are too many narrow-minded folk who cannot appreciate any music outside their experience as a child simply because they will not give their ears time to adjust.
Those of you who think you don't like opera, just give Dido's Lament (Remember Me) by Purcell and sung by one of the greats e.g. Janet Baker a chance. Or the Song to the Moon aria sung by Anna Netrebko.
I have eclectic taste and appreciate music from opera & classical to rock, folk & world. Of course I like some examples better than others but I find it very frustrating that people are so quick to dismiss anything new/different to their usual fare.
I have a much younger friend who has opened my ears to contemporary classical music, so now I enjoy a different experience when listening to modern music. It may not be my go-to music but it now has a place in my life and I can share more concerts with my friend. Or I will when this ghastly pandemic is over.

I love all things theatre and ballet. Have given opera a try a couple of times. Not really my cup of tea but glad to have experienced it.
I was brought up on Sinatra and Nat King Cole and can remember my parents reaction to Kate Bush ( who I totally adore!)
It’s lovely that we’re all different ?

Davidhs

A lot of opera is pure snob value, being seen at the opera, for me it’s OK in small doses, much better in a language you can understand.

Weirdly I like opera to stay in its original version.
Was that the Francesco da Mosta programme in Lucca ??

I love operatic arias, the fairly standard stuff though like Puccini and Verdi.
My son and I watched an open air production of Aida just near the Sydney opera house. It was the strangest production Ever with actual camels appearing, but we had a lovely evening !

Georgesgran

Try Googling Opera North in Leeds Shopping Centre - the joy on everyone’s face watching says they’re enjoying the singing - not snobby at all!

That was lovely Georgesgran, thanks for the link. I'll never be able to hear Nessun Dorma now without thinking of the Italian Air Force at the start of this pandemic, when everything was so bad in Italy.

www.aviation24.be/miscellaneous/covid-19/a-moment-of-pride-in-a-period-of-uncertainty-italian-air-force-stream-the-colors-of-the-italian-flag-fighting-the-virus/