Bugs Bunny. Apopcalypse Now. The Fifth Element. Moonlighting. A Night at the Opera. And it's perhaps not incredulous to think that at least early film scores were modeled on opera and operetta scores.
I can think of at least two pieces that have penetrated the culture so deeply, most people have forgotten they're from opera in the first place:
1. The bridal chorus from Lohengrin
2. The Galop Infernal from the end of "Orpheus in the Underworld" (aka the can-can song)
Also, let's not forget the influence of opera on chess! One the most famous games in history only occurred because Paul Morphy wanted to get free seats to see Norma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-2FpiEzeYI
One of my favorite incorporations of opera into movie storytelling is the scene in āPhiladelphiaā when Tom Hanksā character listens to Maria Callas singing the āLa Mamma Mortaā aria while explaining it to his lawyer (played by Denzel Washington)
I broke up with opera because I was becoming too obsessed, too dependent on it. I turned my back on opera's proven ability to capture my attention, to roil my imagination and to seduce me with beautiful music, storytelling and artists, composers, writers and stagecraft who have helped opera endure for centuries. I fell so hopelessly in love with opera, that I felt obligated to forsake it. I was frightened by its tight grip on my heart. Like a jealous lover, it seemed to force me away from other people and things I loved. I resisted being possessed, and for a year abandoned opera and went back to older passions and pursuits. Week after week, Opera Daily beckoned me back, while I immersed myself in pandemic isolation, political scandals, climate disasters, an insurrection, police shootings, national elections, space exploration, Netflix movies, spirituality, social media posting and, sadly, the deaths of longtime friends. Opera did not insist and opera did not push. It waited patiently for me to see it with new eyes, and listen with new ears, knowing that it was a salve for my spirit and a balm for my soul. I can no longer resist its alluring embrace. Opera, I surrender to you.
As for the other ways opera has inspired culture, what immediately came to mind was poetry. So much magnificent poetry was written into operas by composers and librettists, many of whom were also inspired by literary works. I will only list this one, the lyrics of "Je crois entendre encore" from Georges Bizet's "Les pecheurs de perles". There are many, much better examples, but you get the idea. Many operas are replete with poetry which, fortunately, doesn't lose too much in translation.
I still believe I hear
hidden beneath the palm trees
her voice, tender and deep
like the song of a dove
Oh enchanting night
divine rapture
delightful memory
mad intoxication, sweet dream.
In the clear starlight
I still believe I see her
half drawing her long veil
to the warm night breeze.
Oh enchanting night
divine rapture
delightful memory
mad intoxication, sweet dream.
Charming memory.
By the way, as an interdisciplinary type of person, I loved this week's post. As a non-gamer, it was fun to be introduced to the world of video game music. I discovered Final Fantasy VI, Marco Meatball Hironobu Sakaguchi (https://youtu.be/1iK1QiHf1KI), Hironobu Sakaguchi) and Nobuo Uematsu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobuo_Uematsu) in one fell swoop. Thank you.
The Met hosted 2 performances of TOMMY by The Who about 1975.
The Who's "Tommy" at The Metropolitan Opera House, New York
David Edward Byrd
The Who 1970
Bugs Bunny. Apopcalypse Now. The Fifth Element. Moonlighting. A Night at the Opera. And it's perhaps not incredulous to think that at least early film scores were modeled on opera and operetta scores.
I can think of at least two pieces that have penetrated the culture so deeply, most people have forgotten they're from opera in the first place:
1. The bridal chorus from Lohengrin
2. The Galop Infernal from the end of "Orpheus in the Underworld" (aka the can-can song)
Also, let's not forget the influence of opera on chess! One the most famous games in history only occurred because Paul Morphy wanted to get free seats to see Norma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-2FpiEzeYI
One of my favorite incorporations of opera into movie storytelling is the scene in āPhiladelphiaā when Tom Hanksā character listens to Maria Callas singing the āLa Mamma Mortaā aria while explaining it to his lawyer (played by Denzel Washington)
One should also mention the French film DIVA that used the profound aria from La Wally to stunning effect
I broke up with opera because I was becoming too obsessed, too dependent on it. I turned my back on opera's proven ability to capture my attention, to roil my imagination and to seduce me with beautiful music, storytelling and artists, composers, writers and stagecraft who have helped opera endure for centuries. I fell so hopelessly in love with opera, that I felt obligated to forsake it. I was frightened by its tight grip on my heart. Like a jealous lover, it seemed to force me away from other people and things I loved. I resisted being possessed, and for a year abandoned opera and went back to older passions and pursuits. Week after week, Opera Daily beckoned me back, while I immersed myself in pandemic isolation, political scandals, climate disasters, an insurrection, police shootings, national elections, space exploration, Netflix movies, spirituality, social media posting and, sadly, the deaths of longtime friends. Opera did not insist and opera did not push. It waited patiently for me to see it with new eyes, and listen with new ears, knowing that it was a salve for my spirit and a balm for my soul. I can no longer resist its alluring embrace. Opera, I surrender to you.
As for the other ways opera has inspired culture, what immediately came to mind was poetry. So much magnificent poetry was written into operas by composers and librettists, many of whom were also inspired by literary works. I will only list this one, the lyrics of "Je crois entendre encore" from Georges Bizet's "Les pecheurs de perles". There are many, much better examples, but you get the idea. Many operas are replete with poetry which, fortunately, doesn't lose too much in translation.
I still believe I hear
hidden beneath the palm trees
her voice, tender and deep
like the song of a dove
Oh enchanting night
divine rapture
delightful memory
mad intoxication, sweet dream.
In the clear starlight
I still believe I see her
half drawing her long veil
to the warm night breeze.
Oh enchanting night
divine rapture
delightful memory
mad intoxication, sweet dream.
Charming memory.
By the way, as an interdisciplinary type of person, I loved this week's post. As a non-gamer, it was fun to be introduced to the world of video game music. I discovered Final Fantasy VI, Marco Meatball Hironobu Sakaguchi (https://youtu.be/1iK1QiHf1KI), Hironobu Sakaguchi) and Nobuo Uematsu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobuo_Uematsu) in one fell swoop. Thank you.
Beautiful choice - transported me into orbit
I really love how these entires draw attention to opera in our every day lives and collective cultural experiences. Thank you for posting!