It’s our sixth annual challenge to “Make Opera Your Valentine!”

At Opera Bracelets we say our product is for fun-loving, passionate opera fans. As such, I encourage you this Valentine’s Day to share a favorite opera aria, moment or duet (it is not required to be a love song) on your own Facebook page or on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram or wherever you like to post things. Maybe you would rather send an email to your friends or, even better, just talk it up in person!

BUT, this is the important thing: You have to tell why you LOVE the piece and give a short explanation of what is happening to the characters in the song. The goal is to give your friends who may not be familiar with opera a little sample of how opera can rock your world! Without context, it is hard to understand why we find opera moving and beautiful. It may seem obvious to us but for people outside of opera they might think a piece is beautiful but not get the emotional connection.

Here’s mine for 2019: "Parle-moi de ma mère” from Bizet's Carmen

Don Jose’s mother is engaging in a little long distance matchmaking by sending the beautiful girl next door, Micaela, to visit him with: a letter, a little money and – wait for it - a kiss. As they sing this beautiful melody about home and love and longing, they dance delicately all around the issue of this kiss. We see just how beautiful things could have been (in about a quarter of an hour it all blows up but, for a moment, let’s not think of it).The music of Carmen is amazingly stacked with catchy tunes. They are more well-known and rip-roaring than this one, but a couple of days after seeing Carmen, I always end up with this sweet gentle melody following me around, full of hope, potential and happy endings...

To see the Carmen Bracelet, Click here...

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