If the opera is new to you, video makes a splendid introduction. Almost everything is now available on DVD/BR in a variety of productions. Subtitles and close-ups will render the drama accessible. Much easier than following a printed libretto -- especially in the microprint versions of today's CDs. Having gained familiarity, you can then choose your own mode of home listening or, ideally, live attendance.
I think it was David Raksin who said No-one should listen to my music the first time ... and I've found time and again that a second, third, ... listen rewards. I've rejected Opera as a genre most of my life but purchases of CD box sets across several mainstream labels has brought me a number of recordings: Puccini, Verdi, Mussorgsky et al.
So I've given them a try and found to my great surprise that there is a lot of enjoyment to be had. I especially like soprano arias (my better half doesn't agree!) and improved hi-fi these last few years adds immeasurably.
Earlier this year I spent time listening to the first act of Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia whilst matching each of the songs to an on-line opera aria database and checking some of the pieces to YouTube videos. This effort was well worthwhile and I intend to spend time on other operas, similarly.
Among my all time favourites: "Ah! Ich habe deinen Mund geküsst, Jochanaan" from R. Strauss' Salome. High wattage orchestral melodrama and bloodletting at its best:
And on the other side of town on another stage: John Adams' Nixon in China with "News Has a Kind of Mystery" (starts @ 6:48):
… or how about "I Am the Wife of Mao Tse-Tung"?:
And how could I forget this spellbinding Schnittke (although technically from his cantata that was elaborated on in the opera):
