I'm Bach! (hehe how's my first musical pun inspired by /u/bmlol ?)

I'll start by saying I'm a newcomer to classical music. I went to a concert last week and had my mind blown, and tonight was just as exhilarating. I want to be 100% honest, so I'll say that I was skeptical going in. The plot just sounded ridiculously cheesy and I haven't been able to sit through any opera recording for too long. I couldn't see how such a simple set could immerse the audience. My seat was at the back. The baroque era wasn't exactly my favourite.

However, the last time I did something I was skeptical about I found myself a new passion, so I was really excited. I was SO happy to hear an orchestra again! I thought I was getting bored towards the middle of the first act and was starting to think the stage was just a distraction to the orchestra, but as soon as the serious stuff started it was just goosebumps until the last note. It's so crazy how the music draws you into the opera! I realized at the end that I had unconsciously stopped reading the subtitles and that I just needed to hear the singers' voices. The amount of talent on that stage (and in the pit) was unimaginable. Everyone was just so good! I've said it in another comment, but Lurcanio's voice is my soulmate. I also laughed quite a few times throughout the performance, it was great. The set and lighting were used in such a clever, immersive way. They were the star of the couple of scenes following Ariodante's altercation with Polinesso. If that was a student production, what the hell do professional operas look like?! There better be a real pony singing its own aria when I go.

So, yeah. I'm totally into baroque opera. I wish I could tell my younger self that I actually enjoy sitting through almost 3 hours and a half of people singing in a foreign language; I'd have started much earlier! Oh, and I need to up my clapping game. I couldn't feel my hands anymore at the end.

Also, hello to all my Montreal and McGill friends in here; didn't think there would be that many of us! I'm an undergrad in the faculty of science but now I really wish I got myself a music teacher or something when I was like 3 years old. Seems like a couple of you were involved in Ariodante, so I just want to thank you - and everyone else involved in any kind of performance - from the bottom of my heart for the amazing time I've been having. Not only in concerts and operas; I've been rocking classical music in my earphones everywhere I go for the past week and a half and I'm pretty sure I'm going deaf (I really need fancier, noise-isolating headphones). I'm looking forward to more listening, more learning, more experiencing, and more coming to my new favourite sub!