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| Paris in the 1840s, when slutty zombies were all the rage. Marty Sohl / Met Opera |
Our Seats – not exactly the stalls. We were in the top back row of the theatre, split up, each group of us on different risers but still the view from the theatre gives us close-ups and even extreme close ups. As Mary said, at least we didn’t have to sit in the front 3 rows of the theatre. Six movie houses in Ottawa, all of them sold out for the opera.
Food: fries and gravy for Rhiannon after the first act. The rest of us had a variety of contraband purchased at the dollar store. As Ina pointed out, not much popcorn in the theatre. The over-50 crowd just don't seem to buy it.
Pre-preparation: Rhiannon has asked for no explanation of the plot at the opera. She just wants to be surprised at what happens. That is fine. But I like to ask questions when the opera is over and there is a pay-out to people who can answer questions, or even ask them. We walk a fine balance between her wishes and mine.
The opera was exquisite which is to make an understatement. I was sitting on the row with Leo, Mary and Rhiannon. After the first aria I was gasping for breath? Just hoping that I could sustain enough of my own to make it to the end of the opera – so beautiful.
Leo agreed with me. Everything was faultless: tone, length of note, pianissimos, colour. We were to learn why at the inter-act when there was a documentary on the two month practise time that preceded the performance. We had just heard the first act, and now we were thrown back in time to see the preparation for it. The conductor, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, was working with Diana Damrau (playing Violetta Valery) on phrasing. Now in this house when we talk about giving full expression to the word that is on the E flat we know exactly how that is achieved.
On the way home we could only ask questions of Rhiannon since the other kids went in the other car home. She was able to tell us the names of the main characters (Violetta, Alfredo and Ghiorgio) as well as the name of the nurse, Annina.
Rhiannon was the only one there in her age group, and the same could be said of Naomi and Diego.
Mary thinks the next oldet people may have been in their thirties, but maybe not – maybe she was the next oldest.
Which just goes to show that opera is still loved by the over 50 crowd, mainly.
Arta
looks beautiful! sorry to have missed it!
ReplyDeleteWondered if the D&D binge-gaming was taking over your house, as I was sitting at the intermission, wondering where my loved ones were. I knew where some of them were: Leo, Mary, Rhiannon, Trell, Ina, Rhiannon and her friend Diego DaSliva, all within reaching distance at the opera. We had the four back seats, then two in front of them and then two in front of them. A nice compact group. Hugs to all where were anywhere yesterday. Best day ever!
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