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Photo Credit: Met Website
Dimitri Hvorostovsky and Renee Flemming
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I missed seeing the Met’s production of Eugene Onegin back in 2007.
I couldn’t have been more happy to see it tonight.
I am a couple of hours ahead of Rebecca seeing it in Victoria. She texted me to see if I were watching. I had already finished my viewing, having started it early. I like seeing these productions, and knowing my friends and family are watching.
Physical distancing is not social distancing in these cases.
I must have identified with the heroine in this movie, for I had a pen and pencil in my hand for most of the show.
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Photo Credit: Met Website
Final Act of Eugene Onegan
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I don’t know how I was thinking that would prepare me to watch the opera.
Maybe it did, for I was cognizant of the breathing technique that she was demonstrating in the class with a music student. And that had some carry over to the film for me.
What I really liked about the opera was the Russian feel about it: the costuming for one thing, and another – the staging. And I think it captured class. In the first act, when I heard one of the women say "Heaven sends us habit in place of happiness", I knew there was a trope that was going to occur more than once in the show.
The feel of the grand space, and the lack of materiality was impressive.
I think my favourite quote, translated of course, was Titania saying, “We cannot bring back the past.”
Profound ... and surrounded by Tchaikovsky's music.
Arta
it was beautiful. and the parts were 'meaty'... a real thinking-person's opera. i loved how it let each character really grapple with regret and desire. and the lighting and staging were wonderful (and simple). i felt so drenched in the music.
ReplyDeleteThank you for saying you feel drenched in music. I feel the same way. I have never done so much consistent opera. Every night and I am going to keep it up again this week. When the Met did the whole Ring Cycle, I went to every show -- even the one that was five hours long. That experience was only being semi-drenched in music. When I go to the website and click on the play now button, I feel as though I am saying a grand hello to the person at the box office and then the music starts.
ReplyDeleteI will acknowledge that some people are working 24/7 right now for me, while I sit at home transported every night.
This filming was done in 2007. It is easy to see how the Met has ramped up opera to be a more sumptuous viewing experience. I think this is in part due to filming techniques, because there was plenty of costuming there. As well, the opera has singers who are such great actors now.
Well, I am going to read up on the Tristan and Isolde story before my viewing begins. When I saw the production we will be seeing tonight, I remember having a lot of questions since the old story now has a new background -- that more modern military setting. Clashes where I view the past and the present are important sites of learning for me. See you at the virtual opera.