What is it about Opera that makes people either hate or love it?

Answer 1

There are numerous reasons, usually subjective. However, on a very general basis - while lots of people love music but love / hate singing and in the Opera context the audience is supposed to suspend some reality. The singer [usually female] is just about to die from T.B. but looks exceptionally health, with obviously perfect lungs. OR they stand around singing [instead of getting away] when it obvious they are going to get, for example, a knife in the guts. Or the tenor is telling the soprano [who is 3 times his size and weight] how delicate a little flower she is and how hungry and thin she is [so its not just referees that need glasses] I could go on.