Operas are performed not "played"?

[Deborah Hoffman]

This whole thread is quite confusing.  I've never in
my life said or hear anyone say in English either "go
to see" or "go to hear" the opera (though I can't say
it would seem marked as either pretentious or ignorant
to me), but only go to the opera, have a box at the
opera, get tickets to the opera etc.  Both "see" and
"hear" actually just sound incomplete and inaccurate
to me as opera is both a visual and auditory
spectacle.  Regarding which particular opera the
expression I'm accustomed to was usually "what are
they doing/performing this season".  But then I am an
American with potentially loose wording :-)



-----------------------------------------------------
Date:    Fri, 10 Mar 2006 14:04:48 -0500
From:    "atacama at global.co.za" <atacama at GLOBAL.CO.ZA>
Subject: Operas are performed not "played"?

One can't say what opera is playing - no matter what
venue=2E
An opera is performed=2E
One can say that is "playing" at the local cinema (as
slang)=2E
One can say: "What play is on (or 'being performed')
at the
local theatre=2E"=20
Opera is far too serious to be confused with
'playing'=2E
I am being a purist=2E=2E=2E=2Ebecause that is how we
were taught in 
Engla=
nd=2E
American-English is considered far to 'loose' in
wording=2E

vera b-m

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------