The spinach of the arts

Renae Bottom

I always considered opera the "spinach" of the arts. It was supposed to be good for me, but it was hard to choke down.

Then one day I found myself driving along the highway, listening to public radio, liking opera. Not just liking it--enjoying it, savoring it, fully inhabiting the performance of it. How could such a miracle happen?

I have my music teachers to thank. Somewhere along the line, every one of them, from elementary to high school, from piano teacher to guitar instructor, instilled in me the appreciation of good music.

Whether I "liked" it or not, they made me believe that performing opera was a difficult and demanding occupation. I'm grown up now, and I believe it.

I've always known that the costuming in opera was impossible--who could look good in a horned Viking hat and long, braided pigtails? But today I appreciate the artistry of the singing. Not only that, but I'm happy to say that I also appreciate a bowl of fresh spinach salad.

If you've always loved opera (or spinach!), I apologize for taking so long to see the light. Like most kids, it took me awhile to lose my suspicion of an art form packed with essential "trills and arias."

Opera isn't alone on my list of acquired artistic tastes. I hate to admit it, but it took me a long time to appreciate Shakespeare. Maybe an English teacher shouldn't say such things, but Shakespeare didn't do much for me in high school. I remember sitting in class and reading through "Romeo and Juliet." I remember experiencing a mild interest in the way the phraseology could be dissected and translated, until it approximated 20th century meaning.

But the subtleties of the work were lost on me. Like opera, I knew that Shakespeare was good for me. I just figured it would be easier to take the stuff in "pill" form, (by watching the movie) than by slogging through the words on the page.

I knew that "West Side Story" was just "Romeo and Juliet" in disguise and I liked that movie the first time I saw it. Why did I have to read the play?

People sang in "West Side Story." They danced, they snapped their fingers in unison, they fell in love and "rumbled."

With "Romeo and Juliet," everything took longer.

I think the door finally opened for me on Shakespeare the first time I saw a scene from "Hamlet" performed live, on stage, by actors who really "got it."

Reading a good play is never as gripping as sitting in a darkened theater and seeing a worthy performance of it. Once I heard Shakespeare's words performed, I was hooked. I found the sonnets later.

Not all my tastes have grown up. Caviar still makes me shudder. Sardines and oysters give me the chills.

But spinach, opera, and Shakespeare are just fine, boiled, steamed or raw.

There's not a lot of live opera near my home town, but I've seen a few good performances on public television.

I've also heard some good symphonies, taken in a few poetry readings, and enjoyed more variations on "Hamlet" than I can call to mind.

I think it's safe to say that I'd never have appreciated those particular pleasures, had I not been exposed to them in school, whether I liked it or not.

I might have complained at the time, but I was still young enough to have an open mind.

I guess sometimes it's OK to do something, just because it's good for you.