zlacker

> They break into more conventional dialogue for the recitative sections (a tradition that went out of style with Verdi.)

The comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan were contemporary to Verdi's work and still feature lots of dialogue, so they are very approachable. You still won't be able to use your phone, though - you'll be too busy laughing!

My recommendation for an introduction would be the 1982 Canadian production of The Mikado by the Stratford Festival. It is currently available in its entirety on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbpUzCFCy_8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK6y6n98O00

>>seabas+(OP)
Comic Operas are a different genre, for the most part you won’t find them in the repertory for the major world operas. Gilbert and Sullivan only overlapped with the end of Verdi’s career — they were very much a retrograde move in the artistic evolution of the medium.