Try the Marriage of Figaro
Two weeks ago, we were out to see Ball and Chain at the Elmdale. They were promoting tonight's birthday party for Hank Williams at Irene's. "Are you coming?" They asked me because I was sitting right up front.
"Going to the opera," I said.
"Not the opry?"
Nope. It was the opera. Mozart's Il Nozze de Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro).
Odds are you are not an opera fan. Please keep reading anyway. I'm not going to go on about Mozart and how brilliant he is and I'm not going to go on about how incredible this opera is. You can read articles about that by people who know more and write better than me.
But I can tell you that I've seen about ten operas here in Ottawa and this production was the most moving one I've seen and that includes a different staging of The Marriage of Figaro.
If you'll try anything once and that extends to going to an opera, this is the one to try.
That is because if you don't like this staging of The Marriage of Figaro, you are never going to like opera, but you'll have given opera an honest shot.
Be forewarned, this is not the opera with the famous Figaro, Figaro, Figaro song. That song is in the Barber of Seville.
But it is an opera with genuine laughs and stunning performances of emotional depth. And for 1786, highly controversial, for both sexual and political content.
Le Nozze di Figaro«If, my dear count, you feel like dancing it’s I who’ll call the tune.» - Figaro A day of intrigue, mayhem and desire grips the household of Count Almaviva. Figaro, the Count’s valet, is to marry the Countess’ maid Susanna – but the unfaithful Count seeks to seduce her first and Figaro must act quickly to thwart his master’s plans. A parade of impetuous and scheming characters contributes to a comical day of seduction, trickery and a clash of the social classes!
Sung in Italian, with English and French Surtitles
September 13, 15, 17 & 20, 2008 [8:00 PM]
Southam Hall, National Arts Centre
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4 comments:
if it's mozart you want, I'd suggest the requiem, coming up sept 27 at the NAC. Now there's a piece of music! while i enjoyed the opera last monday, there were no moments that really grabbed my heart (no standing ovations from Seat T45) whereas the requiem pulls you in body and soul from start to finish.
So many empty seats? Or was this during intermission?
Jennifer, to be honest, it's not Mozart I want. It's spectacle that I want. Costumes, drama, action, comedy, sorrow, and more.
Too bad the opera didn't do it for you this time. Maybe my splurging for box seats really is the thing to do.
Xup, yes, intermission. I think they only have single seats left.
But here's a tip: There are invariably open seats in some of the boxes where ticketholders don't show up. Very easy to sneak into these seats during intermission.
the requiem is a spectacle of the emotional interior!
perhaps you will attend the live-at-the-met-at-the-movies, which is debuting tomorrow (monday)? Silver city, I think. apparently tickets go fast!
I have always wanted but never dared to sneak into better seats after intermission. Just like I've always wanted to dress up on a friday night, head down to the chateau laurier, and have a free drink with whatever shindig is going on in the back lobby there. (no crashing weddings, though, that would be in poor taste!).
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