Many people who have never been to the opera are afraid that they will not be able to understand the performance because they do not speak the language that the libretto was written.
English Supertitles
While it is true that the classic operas were written most often in Italian, French, or German, in recent years the use of supertitles displayed on screens above stage has become commonplace, making it easier for audience members to connect with the story even if they do not speak the language.
Thrilling Action
Another frequently mentioned concern is that the opera will be boring or have a storyline that does not make sense to the audience. These concerns, especially in regards to an opera buffa piece, will be put to rest during the first act of the very first opera they attend.
Films on Stage
Life, with all its conflicts and accomplishments, provides the themes for opera in the same way it does for modern films and novels. Watching a badly behaved womanizer get the comeuppance he earned or an unlikely couple outwit an overbearing and manipulative suitor to gain a life together, the storylines for “Don Giovanni” and “The Barber of Seville”, is just as engaging for today’s audience as they were when first introduced.