--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was not especially enthusiastic about…" description: "\"I was not especially enthusiastic about opera when I was young, and I thought I would never write one. I felt it was an art form of the past, with expe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/kaija-saariaho-71956_art_i-was-not-especially-enthusiastic-about_845807.jpg" --- # I was not especially enthusiastic about opera when I was… ![“I was not especially enthusiastic about opera when I was young, and I thought I would never write one. I felt it was an art form of the past, with expensive singers exposing their high notes, and bad theater, and ridiculous stories which don't concern us. But then little by little I realized that…” quote by Kaija Saariaho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/kaija-saariaho-71956_art_i-was-not-especially-enthusiastic-about_845807.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/kaija-saariaho-71956_art_i-was-not-especially-enthusiastic-about_845807.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/kaija-saariaho-71956_art_i-was-not-especially-enthusiastic-about_845807.jpg) > “I was not especially enthusiastic about opera when I was young, and I thought I would never write one. I felt it was an art form of the past, with expensive singers exposing their high notes, and bad theater, and ridiculous stories which don't concern us. But then little by little I realized that it can be defined very differently, that on the contrary opera can be something profound and not superficial - a wonderful meeting point for all the other arts.” Kaija Saariaho ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Opera can evolve beyond stereotypes, becoming a deep, interdisciplinary art that unites multiple creative forms. **In simple terms:** Opera can be profound and collaborative. Key Takeaway Embrace opera’s broader artistic potential. Themes art interdisciplinary evolution culture Mood inspired curious Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - stage productions - educational workshops - community arts festivals Key Concepts music theatre visual arts collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How can opera be made more inclusive? - What other art forms can enrich opera? A Different Perspective Opera may still be perceived as elitist or inaccessible to some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-form/) [Enthusiastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiastic/) [High notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-notes/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Opera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opera/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Don't come, I was thinking now. Wherever you are, stay there. Because with her reduced to a fantasy, I could imagine a wonderful meeting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adlerberg/don-t-come-i-was-thinking-now-wherever-you-are-stay-there-because/) Scott Adlerberg > [Albums like 'Major Moves' or 'High Notes' - those still sound good to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shooter-jennings/albums-like-major-moves-or-high-notes-those-still-sound-good-to-me/) [Shooter Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shooter-jennings/) > [What daughter thinks of her parents in flagrante delicto? Yet, my mother, even after years with him, dropped hints such as, 'You know, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-behar/what-daughter-thinks-of-her-parents-in-flagrante-delicto-yet-my/) [Joy Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-behar/) > [I know I'm known for singing some of those high notes but that's really not what giving someone goose bumps is all about. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idina-menzel/i-know-i-m-known-for-singing-some-of-those-high-notes-but-that-s/) [Idina Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idina-menzel/) > [So it's nice to know that Rita had that impact, and it was nice to end a character on a high note like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/so-it-s-nice-to-know-that-rita-had-that-impact-and-it-was-nice-to-end/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [“God is not looking for incredibly high notes, intricate riffs or award winning ad-libbing. God is looking at the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temi-peters/god-is-not-looking-for-incredibly-high-notes-intricate-riffs-or-award/) Temi Peters > [I like to play in the deep register. I was never a high-note specialist. My range goes from the bottom of the horn up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-baker/i-like-to-play-in-the-deep-register-i-was-never-a-high-note/) [Chet Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-baker/) > [Over the years with movies, I've given directors notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-weinstein/over-the-years-with-movies-i-ve-given-directors-notes/) [Harvey Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-weinstein/) > [I can't hit some of the real high notes I used to hit, but it makes you have to explore different avenues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-can-t-hit-some-of-the-real-high-notes-i-used-to-hit-but-it-makes/) [Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/) > [As a soprano who sings 'Lucia di Lammermoor,' I have the high notes and the trills. No problems there. But going into the low…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/as-a-soprano-who-sings-lucia-di-lammermoor-i-have-the-high-notes-and/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [The high notes always hard to hit. I mean, one has to understand how high notes even happen. The vocal cords have to vibrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/the-high-notes-always-hard-to-hit-i-mean-one-has-to-understand-how/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [Am I afraid of high notes? Of course I am afraid. What sane man is not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/am-i-afraid-of-high-notes-of-course-i-am-afraid-what-sane-man-is-not/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [A song is a favorite song, not because the singer can hit and hold a high note, but because of the words, their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/a-song-is-a-favorite-song-not-because-the-singer-can-hit-and-hold-a/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Belief in oneself is a crucial quality of leadership, because 'a house divided against itself cannot stand.' A leader who fluctuates back and forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-beth-jones/belief-in-oneself-is-a-crucial-quality-of-leadership-because-a-house/) [Laurie Beth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-beth-jones/) > [“God, I think I just hit a high E-flat - and I really held it!" Esmeralda said, after one of her more prolonged orgasms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/god-i-think-i-just-hit-a-high-e-flat-and-i-really-held-it-esmeralda/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More by Kaija Saariaho > [When you travel from your own country to another country for a long period, you do become aware of the differences. For example, verbal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaija-saariaho/when-you-travel-from-your-own-country-to-another-country-for-a-long/) Kaija Saariaho > [Everything is permissible as long as it's done in good taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaija-saariaho/everything-is-permissible-as-long-as-it-s-done-in-good-taste/) Kaija Saariaho > [Well, I'm not involved in polemics. I never wanted to have any position of power, and I don't have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaija-saariaho/well-i-m-not-involved-in-polemics-i-never-wanted-to-have-any-position/) Kaija Saariaho Explore all 4 Kaija Saariaho quotes ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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