night at the - NW Mom Magazine

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night at the
Opera
Opera. The name
often conjures up
high-pitched arias, formal attire, and music
sung in a foreign language. If you’ve never
been to the opera, the idea of attending one
might feel daunting. The reality is that opera is
less daunting and more accessible than many
might imagine. Rather than a staid production
of unintelligible music, it is a stage production
of great magnitude, with complex and colorful
sets, great costumes, and the full range of
human emotion played out in music, acting,
and dance.
Opera began during the renaissance in Italy
during the early 1500s. A group of artists, city
leaders, and intellectuals in Florence (called the
“la camerata fiorentina”) were fascinated by Greek
tragedies. Using music and theater, they worked
to revive them and thus produced the earliest
form of opera. Later, during the Baroque period
in the 17th century, the Bel Canto or “beautiful
singing” style developed, which emphasized the
vocal virtuosity of its singers. The 19th and 20th
centuries produced some of the better known
operas, such as “La Traviata,” “Aida,” “Madame
Butterfly,” and “Turondot.” Today, many people
are familiar with some of the arias in these operas
popularized by special presentations such as “The
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by Geoff Shook
Three Tenors,” which featured Plácido Domingo,
José Carreras, and Luciano Pavarotti. Turondot’s
moving “Nessun Dorma” became the signature aria
of Pavarotti.
Modern operas take on current events, such
as Nixon’s visit to China or even the tragic life
of Anna Nicole Smith. They also revisit older
themes and works, such as Thomas Adès work
“The Tempest” based on Shakespeare’s play.
The contemporary opera is often also more
experiential in its musical forms and structure
and it continues to evolve, just as opera changed
from those early Greek tragedies to a showcase
for singers to the almost movie-score-like work of
Puccini.
A recent Seattle production of Mozart’s “Don
Giovanni” featured a Harley Davidson motorcycle
onstage and a vivid staging of the philandering
Casanova pulled into hell to pay for his misdeeds.
This season’s “The Marriage of Figaro” had a
unique set that moved back and forth across
the stage, exposing adjoining rooms to help the
audience understand the humorous eavesdropping
and confusion that ensued onstage as the clever
Figaro works to outmaneuver his employee, the
Count, and get married to Susanna, for whom the
Count has designs.
There is an excitement in
the ritual of attending the
opera. You are about to
encounter another world
of entertainment.
Many operas are available to watch on the
Internet. It is a great place to start watching
opera and getting a sense of the music, action,
and timing. Try searching for any of the ones
mentioned in this article. Locally, KINGFM 98.1
broadcasts the acclaimed Metropolitan Opera in
New York every Saturday morning at 10:00 am
and Saturday Night Opera at 8:00 pm. KINGFM
also presents live performances of the Seattle
Opera throughout the season.
There is an excitement in the ritual of attending
the opera. You are about to encounter another
world of entertainment. It is an opportunity to
dress up, if you enjoy that, although today’s
opera attendees embrace a range of attire from
jeans to fancy dress. Once there, grab a glass
of wine, a cocktail, or a coffee while you wait
to enter the theater. The Seattle Opera offers
pre-performance talks before each opera that
describe the history, story, and background
of each opera. These talks are a great way to
understand what you are about to see and
create a sense of anticipation as the doors to the
theater open.
When attending the opera, be aware that the
event will usually be two to three hours long with
several intermissions. Despite the long duration,
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the opera
The unspoken actor in the opera is the set.
The staging of an opera presents many
challenges, such as simultaneous scenes or
depicting grand temples and palaces, and
all with the ability to quickly change from
one scene to another. The enjoyment of the
performance includes seeing these sets and
watching how they are used. In the opera
“The Tales of Hoffman,” the first scene opens
as people exit the opera and gather at a bar.
The Seattle Opera chose to present the scene
from the bartender ’s point of view, and the
bar ’s counter is stretched across the stage,
only to split in the middle and open up to
reveal the next scene. The same opera cleverly
imitated flowing water, rowing gondolas, and a
mechanical doll.
During the performance it is perfectly
acceptable to cheer and clap loudly at the
end of an aria or particularly well-acted scene.
If you’re new to the opera, follow the lead
of the audience to know when to show your
appreciation. At the end of the performance,
be prepared for the extended curtain calls. It
is an opportunity to acknowledge the entire
cast and see who captured the hearts of the
audience.
Do not be dissuaded by past preconceptions
of opera, the awkwardness of a new and
unknown experience, or be intimidated by the
seemingly inaccessibility if it. Today’s opera
experience is for everyone. It is easier than
ever in this arts-rich region to find a local
opera and experience the thrill and emotional
rollercoaster that it provides. Take a chance on
a great time and enjoying yelling “Bravo” as
the singer nails a challenging aria.
It is easier
than ever in
this arts-rich
region to find
a local opera
and experience
the thrill and
emotional
rollercoaster
that it
provides.
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time seems to go by quickly as the story unfolds
and the characters are introduced. You need
to keep in mind that once seated, when the
doors close and the lights go down, there is
no admittance or re-admittance until after the
next intermission. This prevents distractions to
both the audience and the cast. Fortunately for
those not fluent in French, Italian, or German,
the libretto (the opera’s text) is displayed above
the stage. This is beneficial even when it is
sung in English. Operas typically begin with an
orchestral overture when the lights go down
and the conductor appears. The orchestra
sets the mood for the first act. If you listen
to the musical theme in the overture, it often
reappears in the music.
Feb/Mar 2016
Though many believe the cost is prohibitive,
there are affordable options. Seattle Opera
offers seats starting at $25, and there are
other local opera companies that are not as
expensive as Seattle Opera. The Puget Sound
Concert Opera plays in various venues and is
only $20 per performance.
Here is a short list of some of the local operas.
Skagit Opera, Mt. Vernon, WA skagitopera.org
Puget Sound Concert Opera pugetsoundconcertopera.org
Lyric Opera Northwest, Bellevue, WA lonw.org
Vancouver Opera, Canada vancouveropera.ca
Opera Popolare, Bellingham, WA operapopolare.com
I encourage you to attend one and discover
the excitement and enjoyment of the opera
experience. nwm
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