Yup....we're all still stuck at home and looking for ways to entertain ourselves. 

So many companies are offering their content for free to all of us affected by this pandemic, and opera companies are at the helm! Now is the time to dip your toe in the water of this beautiful medium. And I can bet, even if you aren't the biggest fan, you won't feel like you're wasting your time.

I don't know about you, but I start to feel a bit guilty if I watch too much television or feel like I'm actively wasting time. Instead, I prefer to use that time doing things I'll feel good about later - reading, learning, knitting, listening to music I've never heard before. Of course, there's a time and a place for just relaxing, but when you've hit the point where relaxation feels slovenly, it's nice to use that time effectively. 

The Metropolitan Opera is offering one free Live in HD production each night at 7:30 PM EST, and they kicked off their first week with some wonderful operas. So many other opera companies are doing free live streams as well. Because many of these companies don't seem to have English subtitles, I'm not going to recommend them to you. But I'll recommend some of the Met HD's productions - and if you feel like you want to do some research into the other productions available from different companies, check those out as well! Get out your calendars - and let's mark some dates down! 

Start off your opera journey with The Barber of Seville, a Rossini opera with an overture (opening music) you'll be sure to recognize! As well, the famous "Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!" aria that you know and love is from The Barber of Seville. This hilarious comedy follows Rosina as she tries to thwart her guardian's efforts to prevent her from leaving and marrying her lover, Count Almaviva. With the help of Figaro, the famous barber, crazy hijinks ensue! 

The music is truly beautiful at moments and a ton of fun throughout. As well, this production is gorgeous and classic and has some of the best singers around! Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Florez, and Peter Mattei lead the cast and are masters of their craft. The Barber of Seville is fun for kids as well as adults - so definitely mark this one down!  

Next up we have The Pearl Fishers! If you've read this blog before, you know how much I love Carmen. Carmen is a masterpiece, and this is the only other opera written by Georges Bizet. It is absolutely beautiful. Two best friends compete over the love of a young priestess named Leila, only to swear fealty to each other - a promise that, as you might imagine, does not hold up very well. The drama throughout is palpable and the score is so magnificent, you'll be totally taken in. 

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Have you ever watched an opera singer on America's Got Talent, or something similar, and wondered if he or she was really trained in opera? I decided that I would watch an audition on Britain's Got Talent and tell you the real story. Let me know in the comments down below what you think, and who else you'd like me to react to!

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