One early criticism of French opera, and indeed opera in general, came from a man named Charles de Marguetel de Saint-Denis, who was Seigneur de Saint-Evremond back at about the turn of the 18th century. In a letter to the Duke of Buckingham he made quite clear his distaste of opera and its musicality. In light of the very rich history of French theatre, he said that the musicality of opera served only to occupy the senses, drawing attention away from the lack of occupation of the mind, since the poetry was so poorly contrived as to take away from the representation of the plot.
I just realised, while studying Latin American culture while listening to music, that I'm using music for exactly that purpose. I'm listening to music in the hope that at least a small part of me will be even slightly interested in something.
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