A Brain Thing: Unexpected Love for Opera

Dove (Diane) Wilson, Lyric Opera of Chicago

A brain thing: I never intended to love opera. It felt pretentious and fake. That started to change when I let myself NOT like it even though many people I know do, they say... I got honest deep inside: “I don’t care who likes this screaming but, not me.”

Then in supporting my singer friends by seeing their shows, I began to view this particular singing differently. It seemed primal, almost pure emotion like a cathartic primal scream. The story content must go straight into the “right brain.” If we stop judging it, we can actually feel the story even if we don’t understand the words — since it’s in Italian or some other foreign language.

Now, I have come to love so many parts of the opera musical style and traditions like the civility and fun of dressing up, being in such beautiful places for the evening like beautiful theatres, and mostly, relearning that human tragedy has been with us for centuries. We are reminded at a visceral level we are not alone in confronting the unthinkable like war, losing those we love, and having intense emotions like jealousy, rage, and even courage. We can face tragedy as other people centuries before have done and also find the beauty and our humanity in it.

“AIDA” at The Lyric Opera of Chicago is epic. Even if opera isn’t your favorite genre of music, it’s a spectacular show for starting to revisit your opinion. It features love, war, dancers, lots of “over-the-top” soprano momentos, and beautiful sets. An amazing spectacle. Very much worth seeing. Your brain may thank you for it. #neuroart #neuroarts #brain #opera #tragedy #love #beauty @lyric.lyric2404