Why are we unable to admit that we suck up to the opera because of our own insecurity and grasping for prestige? The overblown productions. The screeching soprano. The fat tenor bellowing about the splinter in his toe. Opera is enough to bring out the commie in me. Such elitist posturing has no place in an egalitarian society. Throw the drivel out.
You like the soaring melodies? Well, listen to the words. This is dysfunctional relationships and society parading as heroism. “Not a dry eye in the opera house…” And why? Because Violetta sold herself cheaply to a gambling thug and in the end dies of tuberculosis (while coughing on the hero).
Opera was the Big Brother of its day. In fact, centuries from now, primped and pandered audiences will pay big money to attend reenactments of Big Brother and American Idol and sip Chardonnay during the intermission and gush over the powerful performances.
Well, tonight I attend La Traviata at the Portland Opera. I will try not to burst out laughing when Violetta kicks the bucket.
For real?
Here I am again, trying to figure out whether you’re being sincere, but this time I figure you are. Oh well. It’s always entertaining to be declared preening drivel.
Have a great evening David, though, personally, I’d rather have a root canal filling.
Hey, she sounds like you… I prefer Russian opera myself – big guys singing about black bread, depression, alcohol and politics.
Go and listen to Porgie and Bess by Gershwin
Most of the operas I have been to at all recently have been in an opera house that was sponsored by the commies for years as part of their allegedly egalitarian society. Even in the post-commie era they tried to make it egalitarian by bringing in groups of college students. At least in the USA you have the right to stay away. Why don’t you use this right? If it’s for the love of your wife, that’s OK of course.
I can recommend Leyli and Majnun by Uzeyir Hajibeyov. But you might have to travel to the opera house I was talking about to see a production.
I survived.
The music and set were terrific but the performance was bland. Even Hilary had trouble not nodding off. But it was fun to be out in fancy duds and enjoying the spectacle.