Did I mention, by the way, my youngest cat is named Tosca?

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: Honestly I don't believe The Wall is a Rock Opera, it's a concepttual album (Of course Rock Operas are also conceptual but another specie) The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is by no mean a Rock Opera, this is the quintuaessential Conceptual album, the interaction between the characters (Contrary to Tommy and Quadrophenia where the conversations between Tommy and his mother, Frank or Cousin Kevin and Uncle Earnie are the main part of the plot as in any Opera) is almost non existing, IMO The Lamb is more based in The Trial by Kafka than in any form of Opera.   Iván

I only like the overtures.

 

Rossini is my favourite,

I voted for The Wall (but Tommy's #2).

Certif1ed wrote: Carmina Burana (cantiones profanes) isn't an opera. It's a collection of an adaptation of secular songs collected by monks in the 13th(?) Century, and you will find it listed as a Cantate or Cantata. Cantata: http://www.classicalarchives.com/dict/cantata.html   If you check http://www.carmina-burana.com/ You'll find that even though Var4mina Burana by Karl Orff is a Cantata is also describe as what in Spanish we call an OIPERA BUFA (Satiric Opera against the Chutch)   You can also check: http://www.lukor.com/literatura/04122403.htm La Magia y misterio de los tiempos Medievales llegaron a la ciudad de Madrid con la Opera Monumental Carmina Burana"   Tradutioonally Opera is defined as: A theatrical presentation in which a dramatic performance is set to music. The score of such a work. A theater designed primarily for opera Musical drama made up of vocal pieces with orchestral accompaniment, overtures, and interludes. http://www.answers.com/topic/opera   Also you could check: Opera \Op"er*a\, n. [It., fr. opera work, composition, opposed    to an improvisation, fr. L. opera pains work, fr. opus,    operis, work, labor: cf. F. op['e]ra. See Operate.]    1. A drama, either tragic or comic, of which music forms an       essential part; a drama wholly or mostly sung, consisting       of recitative, arials, choruses, duets, trios, etc., with       orchestral accompaniment, preludes, and interludes,       together with appropriate costumes, scenery, and action; a       lyric drama. http://dict.die.net/opera/ The definitions fit, surely not in your limitative music scheme, but also the words Symphonic Prog, Art Rock or Classicakl Music (As a broad term that goes from Late Medieval to Modern 1900 productions don't) but for the rest of the world not as prepared as you do make sense.    So even though Carmina Burana it's formally a Cantata is also described commonly as an Opera KARL ORFF tried to gave it that form and achived success, we know you're all covered by titles but you will finfd that popular wisdom turns into a rule even when formally is not exact to the formal definition.   "Although Tommy is conventionally described as a rock opera, author and Who historian Richard Barnes points out that this definition is not strictly correct, since Tommy does not utilise the classic operatic formulae of staging, scenery, acting and recitative. According to Barnes, Tommy could be more accurately described as a "rock cantata" or a "rock song cycle"." The same applies to Quadrophenia.   Again despite all  your knowledge which I recognize, TOMMY and QUADEOPHENIA are ROCK OPERAS, they may not have all the operatic formula of staging it's a modern or evolved form of Opera defined as ROCK OPERA not as a Rock Cantata.   This kind of productions d0on't have to share all the atributes of the Classic Opera to be an Opera, the author, every soingle site, every single copy includes the word Rock Opera to describe TOMMY, it was presented as an OPERA exactly as Jesus Christ Superstar.   You should also check some sites:     The Rock Opera Tommy What I want to do with this page There is sooooo much information about Tommy:  the original album from 1969 the movie from 1973, directed by Ken Russel numerous productions, including one recorded with the LSO original stage productions the 1989 "Join Together" tour celebrating Tommy's 25th anniversary the Broadway production (which started right here in La Jolla, and I got to see twice before it left! To think, Pete Townshend was right here in La Jolla!!) http://homepage.mac.com/mikepinkerton/who/Tommy/tommy.html  You should be a bit carful when you quote an article from Wikipedia Although Tommy is conventionally described as a rock opera, author and Who historian Richard Barnes points out that this definition is not strictly correct, since Tommy does not utilise the classic operatic formulae of staging, scenery, acting and recitative. According to Barnes, Tommy could be more accurately described as a "rock cantata" or a "rock song cycle". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_(rock_opera)    Mr Richard Barnes doesn't say Tommy is not a Rock Opera he says IN COULD BE MORE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED, or in other words in his modest opinin, or in his perspective but not in the perspevctive or the rest of the world neither oif the author Pete Towwnsend.   Tommy (1969) is the first of The Who's two full-scale rock operas (the second being Quadrophenia), and the first musical work explicitly billed as a rock opera. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_(rock_opera)        If you check, TOMMY redefined the concept of Opera in a new form known as a Rock Opera, despiete what Mr Barnes said, and this definition is in the same page that includes Mr. Barnes words.   Tommy In 1969, the Who released an album called Tommy. This album was very popular, and was hailed as the first great rock opera. Since then, the album has sold many coppies, and the opera has been turned into a musical. All photos and information about the musical in this page comes from the most recent production of Tommy, which is on Broadway Quadrophenia Quadrophenia, The Who's second rock opera, focused on an unusual boy, as did their first rock opera, Tommy. Instead of being deaf dumb, Quadrophenia's main charachter, Tim, had four personalities, each one corrisponding with a member of the Who. Each member also had a theme on the almum. Roger's theme was Helpless Dancer, Keith's was Bell Boy, John's was Is It Me, and Pete's was Love Reign O'er Me.  http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/students/jackr/opera.html    May 23, 1969 in History Event: Who release rock opera "Tommy" http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1969/may_23_1969_136815.html    So Mr. Barnes can say anytrhing he wants to look intelligent, but TOMMY is considered the work that defined the term Rock Opera and for that reason doesn't have to share all the characteristics of a Classical Opera.   Iván

Classical Opera: Don't like most Italian Operas, give me Wagner or Orff:

1. Carmina Burana
2. Tanheusser
3. Der Ring Des Nibelungen
4. Lohengrin
5. Der Fliegende Holländer

Rock Operas:

1. Jesus Christ Superstar: Original Gillan version.
2. Tommy: Amazing with the original cast also
3. Quadrophenia

Iván

Jim Garten wrote: Certif1ed wrote: The best - and probably only genuine - rock opera is Jesus Christ Superstar (the recording with Ian Gillan playing Jesus is especially notable) Agreed - Murray Head in the role of Judas Iscariot, as I remember. That would have been a cast to see on stage - did Gillan ever actually take the role in the theatre? Certif1ed wrote: Just like in the best operas, the main character dies at the end... Oh bloody hell, Cert! I've only just started reading the book... you've spoilt the ending, now.

The main problem with the book is that it's got some chapters missing...    

...and, if I recall correctly, EVERYONE dies at the end. Film-makers, huh?

Debussy's "Pelleas et Melisande" and Musorsky's "Boris Godunov" for me!

I voted Le Nozze di Figaro, but mainly because I've played the Count character in 3 performances and so am biased.

I also like Rossini's Il Barbiere Di Siviglia (the posthumously written prequel to Le Nozze) - Rossini's music really sparkles and shows a level of virtuosity that almost reaches Mozart's.

"Die Zauberflote" and "Don Giovanni" are other Mozart favourites of mine, and I'm also very keen on Verdi's "Macbeth" - more so than his more popular operas, but Otello comes a close second.

I have to say that I can't stand Wagner's music in general, even though I am in humble awe at his leitmotif techniques and gesamtkunstwerk philosophies.

The best - and probably only genuine - rock opera is Jesus Christ Superstar (the recording with Ian Gillan playing Jesus is especially notable). Just like in the best operas, the main character dies at the end... sorry for the spoiler...
    
    

Edited by Certif1ed - October 16 2006 at 04:17

Can I say Philip Glass - Einstein on the beach? I haven't seen it yet, but I've heard the music.

2:44 hours of sheer magic.