Getting into Opera... need advice

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful and detailed responses. I really appreciate all the help.

I will head out to the library some time next week and start borrowing CDs.

I would recommend something from Richard Wagner, one of the operas from "The Ring Cycle" would be nice. It's rather heavy music from the "Romantic" period and I like Sir George Solti's compositions the best.

"Opera for Dummies" was a good primer and the local library should have plenty of opera discs to borrow. Get a handle on what are considered the "standards" and after reading "Dummies" you'll have a working vocabulary to help you evaluate what works for you. Also, attend an opera. Standing Room and Day of Show tixs are always great buys.

I stumbled onto opera while visitng a stereo boutique and heard a voice that filled me with wonder. I went out and bought that CD, my first "opera" CD. It was Renee Flemming's "Beautiful Voice", a collection of her favorite arias. I have no idea what she's singing but you have to hear her that VOICE! It's a talent like...Carlos Santana-Stan Getz-Jimi Hendrix-Miles Davis-The Beatles-Michael Jordan-Babe Ruth, a "once-in-a-lifetime" talent that comes around once a generation. Since then, I've collected most of her CD's. Check it out.

Try Maria Callas "The very best of" on EMI Classics. Seventeen selections from various Operas. These are from older recordings but they sound very good and you can't beat the performances.

I think that If you really want to get into opera you have to see it also so I agree with the above suggestion about renting videos...or better yet...depending on where you live or can travel, go see the operas live...I have seen a dozen or so and find that it can be very hit or miss...but the experience is so much more than just the music...same way as a Grateful Dead show (with Garcia)...unless you go, you really dont get the whole experience.