STEPHANIE

女人的必修课

Opera vs. Hockey

In the article “Opera Night in Canada”, Michael McKinley, a producer and journalist, compared the similarities between opera and hockey and supposed that “just as people no longer see themselves reflected in opera, it may not be long before they no longer see themselves reflected in hockey.” Well, is that true? Will hockey follow the same old disastrous road as opera? I don’t think so. Different origins lead to distinguish destinies.

In the 1597 when entertainment was only localized in music, reading and tea parties, the first opera in the history was born to satisfy the vanity of patricians. Although later in the middle of 1700s, opera houses sprouted up in Europe and real people were piling in to enjoy the new entertainment, operas still couldn’t break from the noble birth. The grand scenes, the luxurious costumes and the high requirements of musical accomplishment all revealed opera’s blue blood. Moreover, the limited themes are getting behind the times, which also lead to the downward trajectory of opera in the twentieth century. Maybe once, opera could temporally become“common dish” on the plebeians’ tables. However, just like a flash in the pan, it won’t stay long.  

On the other hand, hockey, as the traditional sport coming from a folk game, has much more connection with the populace and the country. For the early immigrants in Canada, who created the game, hockey was not only for fun, but also a way to release the pressure and stimulate encourage of the life. To join the game, all you need are putting on your skates, bringing your sticks and playing with your friends. Despite the fact that, most recently, hockey is more and more used in commercial and lucrative purpose, people still can enjoy the game by TV, internet, radio even cell phone , rather than buying the “$325” tickets.

Furthermore, the most essential difference between opera and hockey is that hockey brings all the people together, while opera classes people. At the chilly winter nights, hockey bring the families together sitting in front of the TV, sharing the same blanket, leaning on each others and cheering for the teams. In the club, some people enjoy the game with cigar and xo, some with beer, while some even come with nothing. However, as long as they have the honor and the enthusiasm to hockey, they are the same. Do you see the cars with Canadian flags everywhere during the hockey season? Hockey has become a part of the country.

 Opera drifted from its populist roots, becoming rarefied, culturally adrift, and, arguably, irrelevant, at least to the public at large, whereas hockey expends its roots into everybody’s heart. Maybe opera has become rarified and inaccessible but hockey won’t.