I have never met a person
with a really first class mind who wasted
his or her time on opera...

[ Opera is ] a form of art which is inherrently
romantic, passionate, absurd and illogical.
...And yet much of the mindset that has enabled
me to enjoy a creative life was acquired through
my intensive study of opera.--James Michener

OK, you've pushed my buttons here. I started going to opera performances regularly over 20 years ago. (We have a world renowned company in Louisville.) I went reluctantly because I couldn't find anyone to go to the symphony with me, so when a close friend and opera lover mentioned going to the opera, Hubby told her he'd pay her to take me! I've seen/heard most of the biggies done by world class singers and have fallen in love with most of them (the operas, not the singers). I'm not a good judge of voice quality, but my friend is, and I've learned a lot. We have subtitles when the opera isn't in English, but that's really just for following the story line. The sheer emotion and beauty of Un Bel Di, or Vissi D'arte, or The Humming Chorus (from Madama Butterfly, used by Andrew Lloyd Webber for "Bring Him Home"), or Mimi in La Boheme singing about first seeing Spring in the April sunrises from her little apartment, or one of my favorites, The Wedding Sextet from Lucia DiLammermoor where the action stops and each person sings their heart out...

As far as singers, the first time I heard Pavoratti, the quality of his voice was literally mesmerizing, and he was just singing scales to warm up! Maria Callas had "the voice that waves," a bit too much vibrato for my liking. I know what you mean though about too much acting while you're trying to stay serious and listen. I have a problem with Madrigal Singers and all the facial gestures. (I once had to sing a madrigal song and the director instructed us to overact.)

Don, were you the one Rick said to, "Give me two hours," concerning playing guitar. I say, "Give me two hours, and I'll make an opera lover out of you." (That also goes for not being afraid of algebra and for whistling through your fingers. Well, maybe four hours for the whistle.)