Getting Opera: A Guide for the Cultured but Confused

by Matt Dobkin

A fun, breezy guide to this often misunderstood musical form offers readers an irreverant tour of the opera world and the music it supports. Original.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

Reviews

[Mysteryfan · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my getting clever books. I went to the opera a few times in my twenties and mostly didn't enjoy it. I think if I'd read something like this I'd have gotten more out of it. Lots of general background information and then fifty plot summaries.

[Emmy Kegler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could not get past the first 40 pages. The author comes off as a self-congratulatory, self-important opera hipster. Don't tell me how *you* feel about or experience opera -- tell me why *I* should care. Any "guidebook" that uses more of the first person than any other tense is not my style.

[John Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

A brief review of opera, quick reading but limited learning. The author was not my favorite, subjecting his reader with far too much editorial.

The start of the book was most interesting. The author points out that opera has to ‘reconcile’ words and music – and should do it in a way that complements rather than overwhelms. He suggests that opera must compromise, balance, and reconcile. He raises all the ingredients of a good opera: text, music, sets, costumes, lighting, theatrical performances, but also scenic designs, sometimes choreography and dance.

The author points out some things to do to research – learning about the performers and performance. He suggests going to the library and actually listening to the music. He also says that pre-performance lectures and discussions will help a newbie going through a tough production. The author points out that many people only come to the opera to be seen – and are gone long before intermission, something that was always the case. He even mentions that at one time, people played cards and talked throughout the performance.

The second part of the book briefly reviews 50 major operas. Although it was interesting, it was too much information for me.

[lara phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Opera as an art form (and the plots of 50 foundational operas) summarized for the novice who can't tell Puccini from Rossini. Great analogies like (paraphrasing) " Critics are sometimes down on Puccini because he's very popular and his music has great hooks, but lacks a certain degree of credibility... kinda like Celine Dion". also includes a few modern operas like Einstein on the Beach and Nixon in China.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, informative, and a quick and easy read. It does what it sets out to do. The second part "Fifty Operas" is a great reference if one is going to see any of those operas. I read a few but would not read them all straight through.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful introduction to some ideas, but could use a little more content. Easy to read.
Brief history and his interpretation of its composer's influence on opera's development is helpful

[Lauren Eliza]

I found this book as I was looking for material on musical theater and was intrigued. Knowing more about the arts can't hurt, right? Well, I found it very easy to read but not for idiots, and this was his intended purpose. Though I still prefer musicals, I now have a few operas I might want to check out.

[Albie]

Getting Opera : A Guide for the Cultured but Confused by Matt Dobkin (2000)

[Will Boncher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been curious about the opera, and now I want to see one even more. I didn't read the second half of the book, because it's just synopses of 50 operas, but the first half was good.

[Phyllis]

Need to put this on hold....had to return to library.