I’m not sure what I expected out of the opera Carmen. I’ve never been to an opera before. All I knew was that when I watched opera on America’s Got Talent, it was always a hit or a miss depending on how cultured I felt at the moment. Let’s face it though: America’s Got Talent was probably not the best place for me to find breathtaking opera. Carmen was nothing like the flamboyant opera of Prince Poppycock or the charming opera of Jackie Evancho, which was impressive for a 10-year old. My eyes were opened to what opera really is.

Carmen made me realize that opera is not all about the singing. I found my eyes drawn to the singers on the stage or the translation of their song on the seat in front of you at all times. My ears switched back and forth between a focus on the singing to a focus on the instrumentals. The sounds rushing in and out of my head, I have never heard music so beautiful in my entire life. The emotion within the music seemed to flow into my body more easily than any other piece of music I have ever listened to, despite my inability to actually know what the singer was saying. If the set wasn’t so beautiful I would have closed my eyes to escape with the emotions of the music.

Maybe I am old fashioned. Anything with violins involved can win my heart. I do not believe opera is a dying art or at least I do not think it should die out. It is too beautiful to die out. I think too many people simply don’t get the chance to see it when they really should. Something this beautiful should be appreciated more.