Saturday at The Met

[vaneramos]

At dinner in a restaurant this afternoon, Mom declared solemnly, "I achieved one of my life's dreams today."

As a girl, she had read a book about a woman who grew up in New York City and eventually took her granddaughter to see an opera at The Met. Mom, who didn't have anyone who would accompany her to things like that, dreamt of taking her own granddaughter someday.

Mom didn't grow up with Classical music or opera, but it attracted her whenever she heard it. Dad acquired his appreciation from an older brother. As a young couple my parents heard Arthur Rubinstein perform in Detroit. My brothers weren't much interested, but I inherited the love. My parents and I always had season's tickets to the Windsor Symphony, attended performances of Gilbert and Sullivan by the Windsor Light Opera, and the National Ballet whenever it came to town.

We didn't pay as much attention to opera. I can count on one hand the number of operas I've seen live: La Cenerentola and a much slimmed-down version of La Bohéme. Most memorable (and most recent) was a dress rehearsal for a Canadian Opera Company performance of Tosca, which a friend took me to see some 20 years ago. Still, I have come to enjoy opera more and more over the years.

For Christmas Mom and Dad gave me The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever!, a two CD set of favourite arias. I knew most of them until an unfamiliar one came on, by Mescagni. To my surprise, Marian hummed along. She couldn't tell me where she had heard it.

"I didn't know you liked opera," I said.

"I like everything," she replied.

It so happened my parents had given her a reference guide to the great operas.

And today they took all three of us to see an historic event at SilverCity Windsor Cinemas. For the first time, the Metropolitan Opera broadcast its Saturday afternoon performance live to big screens across North America and in several European countries. This is scheduled to become a regular feature at select movie theatres. Locally, it will be offered by Galaxy Cinemas in Waterloo. This seems a big improvement on the famous radio broadcasts. Personally I'm not interested in sitting and listening to opera on Saturday afternoons, but given the opportunity to watch one for a fraction of the traditional ticket cost, I will go. Opera is largely spectacle, after all.

The Met chose Mozart's The Magic Flute for its pilot broadcast, which would not have been my first choice. The music is good, but only a few melodies are memorable, notably the Queen of the Night's famous aria (performed brilliantly today by Erika Miklósa), and several of Papageno's playful and ribald tunes. The story is bizarre; Mozart died barely two months after its premiere, without much opportunity to explain his intentions, so although the opera makes obvious references to Freemasonry, its meaning remains somewhat arcane. Most attractive is the character of Papageno the bird-tamer, an archetypical fool and everyman, who declines to follow his master through purification by fire and water, aspiring instead to simple pleasures of beer, food and wife.

On the other hand, The Magic Flute lends itself easily to spectacle. The most remarkable feature of today's performance was the production and costume design by Julie Taymor, who won two Tony Awards for direction and costume design in the stage adaptation of The Lion King. Her colourful and playful treatments brought life to the stage. Overall, today's was an enjoyable performance, and I look forward to attending more operas on the big screen in coming months, particularly Eugene Onegin, and The Barber of Seville. For more information, read The Metropolitan Opera goes to the movies.

Mom confessed she didn't know how she would ever achieve her dream, but today she did, taking not just one granddaughter but two. And the girls for their part seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. Marian came to look over my shoulder at the list of Canadian movie theatres where The Met broadcasts will appear.

Comments

[stephe.livejournal.com]

"I didn't know you liked opera," I said.

"I like everything," she replied.

And Marian proves once again that she is the coolest teenager EVER.

Actually, The Magic Flute is among my top five favorite operas. I agree that it's not musically stunning all the way through, but it's got a basic warmth and humanism that just makes it special.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

As with most things I suppose a lot of the liking has to do with familiarity, and I was only vaguely familiar with the storyline until yesterday.

At the very end, after going through their trials, Tamino and Pamina became exalted as Osiris and Isis. I doubt that's a traditional interpretation of the libretto, but it was interesting.

[jwg.livejournal.com]

Well that sounds like it was fun all around.

Have you ever heard Queen of the Night sung (if you can call it that) by Florence Foster Jenkins?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, and what an experience that was!

[missprune.livejournal.com]

I think that is just great. Hurray for fulfilling lifelong dreams!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, and for finding unexpected ways in which to fulfill them. :-)

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

I really like Marian's attitude.

Also, curious...I've been wanting to become more acquainted with opera. Are there particular operas you would recommend as an introduction?

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Although, presumably, you were asking Van, this is the kind of question on which everybody has an opinion. My first choice is always Carmen.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I gave a longer answer, but would agree. Musically and dramatically it has the most to offer.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

P.S. Even though La Bohéme is my sentimental favourite!

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

All opinions are welcome. Thanks!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

If you want to start with something light, try one of Rossini's comedies, like The Barber of Seville (which you could see live in a movie theatre on March 24), An Italian Woman in Algiers, or La Cenerentola (Cinderella). Mozart's The Magic Flute, Cosi fan tutte or The Marriage of Figaro are also good bets, although I don't find Mozart's operas as melodic as Rossini's or Puccini's. You could also start with "light opera", such as Strauss's Die Fledermaus, Lehár's The Merry Widow, or anything by Gilbert and Sullivan.

The vast majority of operas are tragedies. Two of the most appealing are Bizet's Carmen and Puccini's La Bohéme. Verdi's operas are also widely popular, although I've never felt drawn to his music much so I'm not familiar with them, but Rigoletto, Il trovatore and Aida are three of the most frequently performed, and probably all worth seeing.

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much.
I'll be sure to check out your suggestions.

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

It's really wonderful that your mother got to do that. As always, Marian is awesome.

Much love to you and your whole family, Van, and Happy 2007!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Same to you, Pete, and the whole trapezy family! xoxo

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the Ingmar Bergman movie of The Magic Flute? I think it's quite wonderful, even if it's a little weird (to me) to hear it sung in Swedish.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

No, but it sounds remarkable.

[lichtgespinst.livejournal.com]

I love The Magic Flute and especially the movie by Ingmar Bergman.
Happy New Year to you, Van!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'll keep my eyes open for it. Sounds like something Danny would enjoy, too. Happy New Year to you both and your furry family.