Opera: Commonly uncultured

It's quite ironic that something not only designed for the masses, but once considered not elevated enough for society's upper class somehow became associated with being "cultured." Opera isn't stuffy. There isn't one without some combination of poverty, romance, sex (typically illicit), and if not murder, at least death.Yes, opera's 16 century origins were in palaces. Only royalty had the leisure time and money to lavish on costumes and sets. However, most of the full operas popular today were written for the common public.

Opera stars weren't always revered; its original actors were typically desperate for work and barely scraped by. By their "betters" most weren't treated much differently than vendors and streetwalkers. Operas like Mozart's and Verdi's were written about and for the masses, so the story lines appeal with exaggerated emotion, humor, irony, and political satire.All delivered by those highly trained voices which, without microphones and synthesizers, shake the walls of concert halls. When I feel those vibrations through my seat the shock and beauty of it makes me cry. It's as much physical as emotional release.

My own opera story is not without irony. Opera wasn't in my house. As a child I was fortunate to see many ballets, symphonies, and plays. Never opera; it was practically verboten.My parents met in college. He had that smooth-talking, popular, life-of-the-party charm and she was a self-described wallflower. She stared at him from afar as other girls thronged and flirted. Eventually he noticed her and approached with an air of confidence. This scene could be taken from any number of operas.

His confidence wasn't true; he wanted very much to impress her, show how cultured he was. For the first date, he took her to their first opera. Afterward naturally each said it was a good time, so the next date was - you guessed it: another opera. And another, and another, and ... After the fifth opera he finally admitted: "I don't think I can keep doing this. I just don't like opera." "What a relief!" she replied.Five dates, five operas, two lovers miserable in unnecessary sacrifice. Now that's operatic irony.

Their story naturally drew me to opera, perhaps all the more because they wouldn't take me. Finally in college I befriended a man who sang in the chorus of the Houston Grand Opera. He gave me a ticket. I fell in love.Now I share it with my children (20 and 14). Sunday we saw "La Boheme" right here in Coeur d'Alene. The tale of bohemian affairs, love, and death set in the slums of Paris was written by Giacomo Puccini and first performed in 1896 in Turin, Italy. Sunday's performance was another outstanding example of what Opera Coeur d'Alene provides: professional quality, affordable, and right here.

Grazie.

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. E-mail sholehjo@hotmail.com