You’ll Never Like Opera

A study in the journal Qualitative Sociology found that people who like opera, like it the first hear it and not because their tastes change over time. The study, conducted by Claudio Benzecry, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut, focused on middle-class, upper floor or standing room opera-goers in Buenos Aires from 2002 to 2005. The study says that most of the fans experienced an intense feeling of attraction to opera when they first attended an opera. The feeling had enduring physical effects, which Benzecry claims makes it not unlike love at first sight.

Although they love it at first sight, fans take a while to learn all of the intricacies of opera so that they can fully appreciate it. Benzacry says that it takes a while for them to learn about opera and fully understand it, which occurs through three avenues. The first is informal learning through talking with other people at the opera house while waiting in line and during intermissions. The second is formal learning through classes, lectures, and conferences. The third is learning when to boo and clap from other fans’ reactions at the opera house.

It’s a good thing that we can understand how opera fans operate by studying them in one city. Young people go to the opera in far smaller numbers than do old people, but somehow opera fans have loved opera forever and just didn’t get around to going until they were older. My tolerance for opera has increased over time to the point where I like some of it now, as has the interest of some of my friends. I don’t think we’re outliers; I think Benzacry is full of it, or just an idiot.

What do you think? Is opera something that you can grow to love?

Source: Reuters