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Way back in October (either the 11th or the 18th, but definitely a Sunday), Mom and I went to our first opera of the season, Madama Butterfly. (I've had the program sitting on my desk waiting to be posted about for weeks now.)
First of all, we both really enjoyed the performance. The costumes and sets were apparently very different from what is usually done for this opera: the sets and costumes were designed by the artist Jun Kaneko, who did a ton of research over two and a half years to create a really original and beautiful design. The whole thing just worked really beautifully, even when Butterfly was wearing a huge headdress, even with the projection screens. It was visually stunning as well as musically lovely.
On the musical level, Ermonela Jaho, the singer playing Butterfly, was just exquisite. Mom and I were both in tears by the end of the performance.
At the curtain call, each person stepped onstage to receive applause, but when the man playing Pinkerton stepped out, everyone booed (which is to be expected, as Pinkerton is a complete and total clueless shit of a character). As the audience booed, he gracefully whipped a bright red Phillies cap out of his back pocket and put it on. The boos turned to cheers. Very gracious of him, and proves he has a good sense of humor.
Overall, it was so cool to see this opera. Neither Mom nor I had seen it before, and it's such a classic. We both really enjoyed it and were really glad to have seen it.
Seeing this opera made me want to read the play M. Butterfly again. I think though that I might lend it to Mom instead. Undecided on that, though, as it's kind of a downer of a play, and with her being so busy and not feeling great, and it being the holidays, maybe she'd want something more uplifting. Then again, she's always reading books about foot binding, or the awful things that happened during WWII, so maybe she'd still enjoy it. I'll stick it in the bag to take to her tomorrow.
First of all, we both really enjoyed the performance. The costumes and sets were apparently very different from what is usually done for this opera: the sets and costumes were designed by the artist Jun Kaneko, who did a ton of research over two and a half years to create a really original and beautiful design. The whole thing just worked really beautifully, even when Butterfly was wearing a huge headdress, even with the projection screens. It was visually stunning as well as musically lovely.
On the musical level, Ermonela Jaho, the singer playing Butterfly, was just exquisite. Mom and I were both in tears by the end of the performance.
At the curtain call, each person stepped onstage to receive applause, but when the man playing Pinkerton stepped out, everyone booed (which is to be expected, as Pinkerton is a complete and total clueless shit of a character). As the audience booed, he gracefully whipped a bright red Phillies cap out of his back pocket and put it on. The boos turned to cheers. Very gracious of him, and proves he has a good sense of humor.
Overall, it was so cool to see this opera. Neither Mom nor I had seen it before, and it's such a classic. We both really enjoyed it and were really glad to have seen it.
Seeing this opera made me want to read the play M. Butterfly again. I think though that I might lend it to Mom instead. Undecided on that, though, as it's kind of a downer of a play, and with her being so busy and not feeling great, and it being the holidays, maybe she'd want something more uplifting. Then again, she's always reading books about foot binding, or the awful things that happened during WWII, so maybe she'd still enjoy it. I'll stick it in the bag to take to her tomorrow.
