There is a lot of music, including opera, that I do not like. There is a lot of music, including opera, that I do like. I always atart off feeling it is partialy my fault when I do not like something. I think I do not like it because I do not understand it. Either the composer or the performer is doing something that is over my head and I am not intelligent enough to spot it:-(

Then I think, 'what the hell'. If I don't understand it is not entirely my fault. The performers or composers should not be such clever dicks in the first place! It is not up to me to try and work out why I should be enjoying it. So I don't:-)

An relative by marriage did try to explain jazz to me once. I got to the stage where he declared that there was no need to stay in relative keys because that restricts your creativity. The chords of F G and A minor diminished still sounded awful when used in the same tune...

Anyway. To answer the question. No, Opera is not rubbish. There are some operatic composers that are too clever by half and some performers that are to pretentious for their own good.

But perhaps that is just calling a spade a gold plated digging impliment;-)

Cheers

Dave the Gnome