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Why are these operas like the NFL?
Wagner, Verdi, Mozart, Leoncavallo pack as much action as any sport
The NFL season started with the Detroit Lions defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 21-20 on Thursday, September 7, 2023. While I don’t feel inclined to divulge my team loyalties, I will say that I am most decidedly not a Chiefs fan and so the evening’s entertainment went well for moi. It was a great opening to the opera that is the NFL season. With that in mind, let’s consider some other great openings from the world of opera.
Video:
Die Walkure: Prelude
The opening of Richard Wagner’s Die Walküre portrays the character of Siegmund being thrashed through the forest by a massive storm. The music whips the character along from the get-go setting the tone for the most dramatic of the four Ring operas. This is also the most concise of Wagner’s preludes but its compact form heightens the ferocity of the storm.
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La Traviata: Hello, beautiful!
*La Traviata* by Giuseppe Verdi is the most performed opera in the world and it opens with one of the most iconic scenes in all of opera. Alfredo has arrived at a party and is smitten by the super-sexy and sophisticated Violetta. He is challenged to make a toast and the famous “Brindisi” or drinking song is what follows.
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Don Giovanni: opening scene
Mozart’s Don Giovanni opens with the title character trying to seduce one Donna Anna. She rebuffs him and he insists. This leads to Don Anna’s father, the old commander challenging Giovanni to a sword duel. Giovanni doesn’t simply disarm the old gentleman but proceeds to kill him. An attempted rape followed by a murder makes one hell of an opening for an opera.
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Pagliacci - prologue
The prologue from Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo is one of the most glorious arias for baritone in the entire repertoire. The character Tonio sets the scene for the tremendous drama that will unfold. Tonio explains that the drama is based on actual events and then goes on to philosophize about humanity all being flesh and blood and breathing the same air. If push came to shove, I would say this is my personal favorite opening of an opera.
Video:
Otello: opening
Verdi’s Otello follows Die Walküre and opens with a storm. Verdi’s storm is far more dramatic and fleshed out with a chorus of onlookers describing the naval battle being fought in the midst of the tempest. Otello emerges victorious and then vaunts to the crowd about his victory with his opening line, “Esultate l'orgoglio musulmano.” This is also the most appropriate opening of an opera for the Detroit Lions because, as you might recall, Otello is “The Lion of San Marcos.”