No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.

Summary

This quote implies that opera, as an art form, often portrays events and stories that may seem irrational or unrealistic. It suggests that the emotional intensity expressed through singing in opera is not bound by the limitations of practicality or sensibility. Instead, opera characters use music to give voice to their deepest emotions and desires, transcending the boundaries of rationality. It suggests that the purpose of opera is to tap into the raw, passionate, and sometimes irrational aspects of human experience that cannot always be expressed through spoken words alone.

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