谈论歌剧After The Opera

JUDY: Well, honey, how did you like it?
SCOTT: Do you want me to be honest?
JUDY: Of course.
SCOTT: I was bored to death. What a ridiculous¹ art form!
I never want to do that again. 
JUDY: Huh, how can you say that?
It was beautiful. You just saw one of my favorite operas.
SCOTT: I'm sorry. I know you like opera.
But it just isn't for me. I'd rather read a novel or watch a movie.
JUDY: But you don't know how to appreciate opera. That's the problem.
SCOTT: What you're saying may be true.
But listen. This opera was "Tristan and Isolde". I know that story. Remember?
JUDY: Yes, I know. You wrote a paper on the poem in university.
It was a medieval² poem, wasn't it?
SCOTT: Yes. So I even know the story very well.
But I thought the opera was boring. It was pretentious³.
JUDY: Pretentious? How can it be pretentious? Wagner is a great artist!
SCOTT: I'm sorry. I just think the whole thing is pretentious.
The singing is too exaggerated⁴. And I will say something else.
JUDY: What?
SCOTT: I think a lot of people who go to opera don't understand what they hear.
They only go because they think it is high class.
JUDY: Probably you're right. But you're not saying I'm that way, are you?
SCOTT: No, not at all. I know you understand music very well.
But you can't say most of the audience understands, can you?
JUDY: No, they don't understand the story probably.
And they don't understand the music very well either. But I still think they enjoy it.
SCOTT: Hmm. Maybe. But don't you think they enjoy movies more?
JUDY: Yes, probably.
SCOTT: So why don't they go to movies?
JUDY: Because well...
SCOTT: It's because they want to appear cultured. They want to do something high class.
But to me it's just hypocritical. Because they don't understand it anyway.
JUDY: I know what you're saying. But I still feel bad that you didn't enjoy it.
SCOTT: Don't worry about that. I wanted to tell you honestly what I think.
I respect you, you know. I respect your appreciation⁵ for opera too.
But it's not for me. I'd rather read a novel.
朱蒂：亲爱的，你还喜欢吗？
史考特：你要说实话吗？
朱蒂：当然。
史考特：无聊死了。多么好笑的艺术形式！
我再也不想看了。
朱蒂：你怎么这么说呢？
我觉得很美啊，你看了我最喜欢的其中一部歌剧啊！
史考特：抱歉，我知道你喜欢歌剧。
但是我不喜欢，我宁愿看小说或电影。
朱蒂：但你不懂如何欣赏歌剧，那才是问题所在。
史考特：你说的或许对。
但是听着，这部歌剧是《崔丝坦和伊索德》的故事，我了解这个故事，记得吗？
朱蒂：我记得。你大学时曾经对这首诗写了一篇文章。
那是中古世纪的诗，不是吗？
史考特：是的，所以我甚至很清楚这个故事。
但是我还是觉得歌剧很无聊，太做作了。
朱蒂：做作？怎么会做作呢？华格纳是个了不起的作曲家。
史考特：抱歉，我只是觉得整部戏很假。
唱得太夸张了，还有别的。
朱蒂：还有什么？
史考特：我觉得很多去看歌剧的人都不明白他们所听到的。
他们去看只是因为认为那是有水准的。
朱蒂：也许你对。你不会是说我也是那样吧？
史考特：不是。我知道你懂音乐。
但是你不能说大部份的观众都懂吧？
朱蒂：不，他们可能不明白这个故事。
而且也不懂音乐。但是他们还是很喜欢这个歌剧啊。
史考特：唔，有可能。但是你不认为他们更喜欢电影吗？
朱蒂：也许。
史考特：那他们为何不去看电影？
朱蒂：那是因为……
史考特：因为他们想表现得有文化，他们想做些有水准的事。
但是在我看来那太做作了，因为他们到底是看不懂的。
朱蒂：我了解你说的。不过我还是很难过你刚刚看得很无聊。
史考特：别放在心上，我想对你坦白我的想法。
你知道我尊重你，也尊重你对欣赏歌剧的欣赏。
但是我不喜欢歌剧，我宁愿看小说。

1 ridiculous   

adj.荒谬的，可笑的；荒唐的

参考例句：

• It is simply ridiculous to attempt such a thing.试图干这种事，简直可笑。
• It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life.这是我有生以来听到的最为荒唐可笑的事。

2 medieval   

adj.中世纪的，中古（时代）的

参考例句：

• This is a medieval story.这是一个中世纪的故事。
• The museum has a fine collection of medieval ivories.该博物馆收藏着一批精美的中世纪象牙制品。

3 pretentious   

adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的

参考例句：

• He is a talented but pretentious writer.他是一个有才华但自命不凡的作家。
• Speaking well of yourself would only make you appear conceited and pretentious.自夸只会使你显得自负和虚伪。

4 exaggerated   

adj.言过其辞的

参考例句：

• Inevitably, the press exaggerated the story. 新闻界照例又夸大了这件事。
• His claims to an intimacy with the President are somewhat exaggerated. 他声称自己与总统关系密切，这有点言过其实。

5 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。