Dipping a toe

A toe into classical music, I mean--it's often easy to get into another form of music one song at a time, or one aria, in this case. Here's part III. Sicilienne: Allegretto molto moderato from Suite 'Pelléas et Mélisande', opus 80 by Fauré.

This 1898 song is infamous and very easy to enjoy. It was scored for a symbolist play [not the opera by Debussy, that's something else] and is about two doomed lovers--Mélisande falls in love twice, and the second time she begins cheating on her husband Golaud with his brother Pelléas!

Golaud sends their son Yniold to spy and when he learns they are together he kills Pelléas and hurts Mélisande as well. She has a sickly, small daughter and then dies. The story shows the power, danger and irrationality of love, in a way; it shows how discord reigns supreme in life.

If you want to try the opera, it's very soothing and lovely, listen here for Act III, scene 1. It helps to listen to opera a little bit at a time, that way you whet your appetite without overdoing it. Be sure to listen to the most famous arias and preludes, as they are often very listener-friendly and allow you to see what kind of music you prefer.

If you saw The Dark Knight Rises, the classical piece during the charity benefit was Maurice Ravel's "Pavane for Dead Princess", very beautiful and easy to love if you want to try it.