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Original arrangements, style, and authenticism are surely important. But would you truly prefer that newcomers to operatic music not be inculcated through whatever means happen to hit the mark?
Although I played juvenile piano and was thereby given exposure to many classical pieces, I realize that from popular movies (I'm thinking "Moonlighting" and "The Hunger", among others) I was exposed to operatic and classical melodies (yes, Melodies) and musical strategems that amazed and delighted me to the point that I sought out original and other arrangements to get a broader exposure to the 'perfect' version (in my own terms).
One oddity seems to surface - in a large percentage of instances, what I hear originally (I'm talking orchestra and conductor) often becomes my favorite, the one by which I judged all the others. "La Valse" (Ravel), or "Lakme" (Delibes) -- perhaps my most favored -- when played with orchestrations other than my initial hearing, become excruciating to experience. I frown and groan and hit hand to forehead, realizing that they 'got it wrong'.
Which is a long-way-round to saying... a beautiful voice, arrangement, and orchestration can inform someone of something transcending. Maybe they get it low, or they get it high, but hey, they're getting it!
Chreesta
