How eclectic is your taste in music?

With opera you really don’t need to understand the words, but to listen to an entire opera I do feel one must know the story and it is then still enjoyable not knowing the language. I levitate for sure more to compilations where I’m comfortable just feeling each piece. Pavarotti’s voice was truly a planetary treasure. I saw him in the last phase of his performance live at the acoustically “not as bad as other arenas” Denver Pepsi Center and was absolutely astounding with the breadth of his vocals. His stage presence was by far the largest I’ve ever witnessed. Which reminds me of the first time I saw Tony Bennett - from the “halo” balcony at The Denver Opera House (Ellie Caulkins Opera House). Acoustics there are incredible. As part of the encore, Tony had the house turn off all mics and he sung “Fly Me To The Moon”. What a moment in life to remember. It was truly for me a “religious experience”. Both experiences literally brought tears to my eyes. Not an easy feat :).

Probably half my enjoyment of opera is following the actors as they move around on the stage.  Left and right.  Forward and back.  It's an audiophile thing. :-P

No matter what the genre great music is great music.it will always shine.

All Mumblecore all the time.

 Amadeus to Zappa  - Indeed

I have this debate all the time with my audio consultant.  He listens to god awful music (in my not so humble opinion) because it was recorded well and sounds great on the systems he demos.  I listen to the musician and their music whether it was recorded in 1928 or 2020.  How can I not listen to Blind Willie Johnson's Dark Was The Night (Cold Was The Ground) and not be moved.  I can only take Jack White's music in limited doses, but I sure like him as an artist, musician and love his business models.  Yep, the recent classical releases on Analogue Productions are inspiring as well.  Then again, save those 36 minute Dark Star's from bootleg tapes for when you are in the mood - because that was a band made in shangri la!  Those Dark Star versions are like Keith Jarrett's live solo piano work - you just never know where it will lead you.

Anybody see that article in TAS a few issues back about the three types of music listeners?  It was a great article that sums us up perfectly.  I'll see if I can find that article again.

I've been enjoying a lot of female vocalists lately because they sound so good on my system.  Some recordings are from the 1950's.

BUT, my collection has no room, none, for rap and hip-hop.  That is not music.  Bad Poetry to boring syncopated drum solos - best description yet.