let's say i wanted to get into opera in quar beyond just the arias everyone knows (I do). Tell me:
1) your favorite operas/arias to listen to
2) your favorite books on opera/opera history
3) good opera documentaries/podcasts? (I know and love aria code already!!)

i want to emerge from all this with a hot take about why rossini is good (or sucks! i need help! clearly!)

i should be a lot more into opera than i am because my late grandfather, who i loved, had a sunken study that you descended into that was all oxblood chesterfield leather chairs and old chess sets and his opera collection...of 1000 records

he was a true opera freak and it brought him great solace and i am trying to access whatever it was that did it...in a time when solace seems useful

the generosity of people in this thread -- excited to share a thing they love, not pretentious, giddily recommending more and more things...i truly love to see it and people can be good

also my DMs are incredible rn

also LOL at how i am learning the plot of 90% of classical operas is "a woman goes insane. end of opera."

ok i started with this one last night via the @MetOpera on demand and let me tell you it was a RIDE

me trying to write anything in quar

me after wearing exactly one fall sweater outside

me sending the google doc to my editor knowing full well there is still no kicker for the piece