Wednesday, November 19, 2014

A Night at The Opera

Chronica Domus
Photo: Chronica Domus


What is it about opera that immediately floods one's mind with images of overbearing ladies in horned helmets and stuffy gentlemen dressed in tailcoats nodding off in the box seats, à la Tuppy Glossop of Jeeves & Wooster fame?  If you've shied away from attending an operatic performance for these reasons alone, you are missing a marvelously entertaining evening, at least that is if you pass up the opportunity of seeing Rossini's The Italian Girl In Algiers.


Chronica Domus
Our evening's entertainment beckons
Photo: Chronica Domus

My family and I were guests of dear friends, one of whom being among the evening's musicians, at last Saturday night's opening performance. This comedy-filled opera was staged at the beautifully renovated California Theater in San Jose.  Built in 1927 as a movie palace, the theater is a perfect jewel-box of intimate scale and fabulous acoustics, where the orchestra's glorious notes waft effortlessly throughout the venue and fill the audience with sheer delight. We sat in the orchestra section which was a mere twenty rows deep, affording us unobstructed views of the mayhem and madness being played out on stage.  No need for opera glasses this evening.

Chronica Domus
The opulent lobby of the California Theater bathed in golden light
Photo: Chronica Domus


Chronica Domus
A view of the stage and the meticulously restored domed ceiling
Photo: Chronica Domus


The Italian Girl In Algiers is a perfect opera for beginners and one that will certainly sway you from any misconception that opera is well, how shall I put this delicately, a pastime for pretentious stuffy types. This is the first opera my twelve year old daughter has attended and she was absolutely riveted by the witty and beautifully sung dialogue chock full of comedic antics in a world of palaces and harems in far away lands.  I do not recall there being a dull moment during the two and a half hour performance.  In fact, we were having such a wildly amusing time that the interval between the two acts arrived faster than we had anticipated. The cast was especially entertaining as they entertained us, their captive audience, singing sublimely in Italian. The story is easily followed with the aid of super-titles in English that are projected high above the stage.

Mustafa, the lecherous and foolhardy Bey of Algiers, tires of his wife and demands his captain find him an Italian girl, the sort that "drives men mad", which he soon does with the aid of his pirates. Isabella, the newly captured Italian girl, uses her womanly charms and head-strong ways to outsmart Mustafa, who inevitably tires of her antics so back to Italy she happily sails.  There is much physical comedy to this opera, especially from the lead male character Mustafa, who was played brilliantly by Mr. Nathan Stark.  Mr. Stark possesses the most extraordinary elastic facial expressions to bring Mustafa to life, and a stentorian voice that booms throughout the theater.


Chronica Domus
I unashamedly took this sneaky snap (sans flash) of the curtain call where the entire cast received a well deserved standing ovation - Bravo!
Photo: Chronica Domus


I consider opera to be very underrated in today's world where most of us seek our entertainment via electronic means.  I believe it to be the most creative of the performing arts.  Where else can one go to hear live music, experience passionate acting and singing, and view exquisitely lush costumes and stage sets?  It really is a terrific treat to behold.

Back in 1813, when Gioachino Rossini was a young lad of twenty, The Italian Girl In Algiers became a huge hit, affording him rock star status and catapulting him to international fame.  Today, his opera stands the test of time and is still able to provoke peals of laughter and joy from audiences two centuries later.

If you've yet to have the privilege of attending an evening of opera, please do yourself a favor and seek one out.  You may want to begin with a comedic opera, such as this, which will surely delight and inspire.

Have you attended an opera, and if so was the experience positive?  Please do share your thoughts on this form of entertainment that is so very often maligned.

Nota bene: I am neither paid nor do I receive recompense in exchange for applauding products or services within my blog.  I do so because I enjoy them.  If you are a kindred spirit, you too enjoy recommending nice things to fellow good eggs.


29 comments:

  1. It looks like a wonderful night out - I love that theatre!! The ceiling is just sublime, it always adds a little magic to have a theatre that is as inspiring as that which is upon the stage.
    I love the Opera, having been taken along since the age of 8 by my Mother. Unfortunately, my Husband does not, and the last production he attended with me - Madame Butterfly - he announced was his last. He was ably supported in this decision by my Father… who had similarly announced that he would never attend the Opera again with my Mother many years before, and which had resulted in my sisters and I standing in for him instead! So it seems that History repeats, and I'm destined to be accompanied by my daughter once she's old enough. Up until then, I beg friends or occasionally one of my Sisters to attend with me! It really is the best night out, I just wish our local production company put on more every year.

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    1. Hello Heidi,

      Looks like we are kindred spirits in our appreciation of opera. My husband is a fan (lucky for me), so I'll never be short of a date, and it seems that now my daughter has been initiated she too would like to attend future operas. Do you know what turned your father and husband off to such performances? Perhaps my husband is in the minority. Funny, but he'd never consider attending a sports game.

      I'm glad we agree in our love of beautiful theaters. It makes all the difference, it really does.

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    2. I'm not sure why they dislike the Opera so much - they both state that they find it "Boring"??? Interestingly it was Madame Butterfly that finished my Father off too - when my husband was complaining about it saying never again, my Father nodded enthusiastically in agreement with him by saying "Oh that one is the WORST". Apparently all the waiting she does was not appealing to them. But it has the most beautiful Aria in any Opera in it! My husband also does not like the Ballet- Swan Lake last year was his last ballet for at least 10 years he told me. So the only thing we can now go to together is the theatre and, thankfully, concerts. I love Baroque music, and he doesn't seem to have a problem with that… yet!

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    3. Oh, that is hilarious Heidi, how the males in your family find MB "the worst". To learn that ballet is now in the mix, well, my goodness, I do feel for you. I think you need to accompany us to the ballet if you ever visit San Francisco. We enjoy attending a sumptuously beautiful Nutcracker performed each December at the War Memorial Opera House. The theater is another beauty and pretty much everyone dresses up.

      Oh, and yes, bring on the baroque, my favorite classical period. Purcell, Handel and Bach, the holy trinity.

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    4. This is hilarious!

      My husband will not attend the opera - never did even during the wooing stage of our relationship.

      But he did attend a ballet with me once only because I assured him that there would be really "fit" women. ( I really had to convince him. ) But I am lucky to live in London where there are two proper opera theatres and the Royal opera house is a pleasure to be in. But the tickets are hard to get so one needs to plan well in advance otherwise good performances get sold out. But people don't dress up to the opera here and standards have gone down considerably and I saw someone in a track suit once. But I had to applaud that they still had respect for live performance so I couldn't really slate them.

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    5. Hello Coulda shoulda woulda, and welcome aboard!

      Oh dear, so sorry to hear that your other half won't consider attending an opera either, but at least you made head-ways with the ballet ("fit" women indeed!).

      How wonderful that you live in London, my hometown. I do miss it and as you've stated, there is a wealth of choice when it comes to performing arts.

      It saddens me to read that sartorial standards have plunged and track suits are to be spotted among the audience. I shake my head in disbelieve. Please, show some respect for the performers that work so hard to show you a good time and put on your Sunday best.

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  2. The Italian Girl in Algiers is one of my favorites – it rates high in the sublime & ridicule department which is what I like in this most complete of the art forms. I saw a very lively, outlandish production of it years ago by Andrei Serban at the Palais Garnier here in Paris that Le Monde scathingly called pornographic. It was brought back last year with unanimous praise. Times change. I should have brought my children because you are right, it is well-paced and easy to appreciate by all. Their 1st live opera was Tosca in a reduced version at the Piccolo Teatro in Rome. Slightly heavy, I know, but they could take it for just one hour!

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    1. Hello gesbi,

      Wonderful to hear that you too are a fan of The Italian Girl In Algiers. I can only imagine how thrilling it must be to be seated within the lush confection that is the Palais Garnier. I've walked past the building but have not had the pleasure of attending a performance there. I must correct that on my next visit to Paris.

      I'm impressed that your children sat through Tosca - well done little gesbis!

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  3. CD,
    I too try to stoke interest in this underappreciated art form and as you say often looked upon as only for the pretentious stuffy elitists. We in Chicago have the wonderful Lyric Opera company which is among the very best in the world. I started the way I advise others not to. I subscribed during the early '90s and to save money got the Tuesday/Thursday package in seats up very high and far away. With performances almost always going well past 3 hours, that is too much after a day at work so I now arrange my day around an opera performance with a restful day of leisure and only attend 3-4 performances a year but get the very best seats as the sets are exquisitely rendered and the sopranos are often smoking hot gorgeous.

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    1. Dearest GSL,

      What a cultured gent you are to plan so carefully around the opera so that you may enjoy it so frequently and from the best possible seats in the house. The Lyric Opera is indeed highly regarded and you are fortunate to attend so many of their productions (what a beautiful theater too!).

      As I've matured over the years (at least I hope I have), I've given up attending pop/rock concerts (too chaotic/loud), the cinema (too many ill-mannered folk chatting on phones or to each other), and have gravitated more towards live theater, ballet, small music venues, and the opera. I do hope my daughter grows up to appreciate these forms of performing arts although a Taylor Swift concert is probably more up her alley right now (she did love the opera last week, thankfully, so there is a chance).

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    2. The Civic Opera House and Theatre is a piece of Art Nouveau/Art Deco magnificence. I did their annual back stage tour about 10 years ago and got the behind the scenes perspective to how massive an undertaking it is to put on an Opera and meeting the skilled artisans (much like your father) talk about their craft along with amusing anecdotes of past productions.

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    3. GSL, I would have immensely enjoyed such a tour and to have had an opportunity so view the goings on from behind the scenes. I must find out if the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco has such an event. It is a real beauty and far larger than the California Theater in San Jose. You would love it.

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  4. What a beautiful theater! I attend the opera pretty regularly here in DC but our DC opera company is at the (somewhat ugly) Kennedy Center -lacking all of the charm of your theater!

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    1. Hello AD,

      I do love an old theater and it makes a huge difference to my enjoyment of live performances. Happy to hear you are an opera patron in D.C. I'm sure they have some fine productions throughout the year. Do people make an effort with their dress? I do hope so.

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  5. The first opera I attended was Lucia di Lammermoor, in a box no less, which for some reason I was taken to when I was still in elementary school. Lucia is also a good introductory opera, because the music is tuneful and the story easy to comprehend.

    My interests in music and history have introduced me to many of the great 19th century singers. Back then opera was more universal; opera tunes were played by brass bands and the star performers' antics created general excitement. Collecting souvenirs from that period of music is great fun, for example this tintype portrait of Adelina Patti that I wrote about:

    http://roadtoparnassus.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-tribute-in-tin-to-adelina-patti-queen.html

    --Jim

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    1. Hello Jim,

      You certainly started your opera appreciation at a tender age, and in a box too (may as well start at the top!). I've never had the pleasure of Lucia but it is good to know this may be something to consider taking my daughter to as part of her initiation into opera.

      As you say, opera was more widespread in prior centuries and composers and singers achieved star status. I suppose you could say they were the precursor of today's film and radio celebrities.

      I'm off to read your post on the tintype, thank you.

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  6. Hi CD,
    I confess, I've only seen a couple of operas in my life and I came away less than hooked. I love Rossini's music so maybe this is an opera I would enjoy. The theater certainly is beautiful and there's nothing like a beautiful setting to entice me. Kind of like a beautiful church. :-) Thanks for sharing. How wonderful for your daughter to have such a positive first opera.
    xo,
    Karen

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    1. Hello Karen,

      I do hope you'll give opera a try once again, but I do understand it isn't everyone's cup of tea. I think you truly would enjoy a more comedic opera (opera buffo), such as The Italian Girl In Algiers, especially as you adore Rossini's music.

      On the radio yesterday, my daughter heard an advertisement for Rossini's Cinderalla which has opened in San Francisco at the opera house. She asked her father if we could attend. I guess she may be hooked.

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    2. Good morning CD,

      While I have enjoyed watching opera on the TV, I have never been fortunate enough to see it live. I have, however, read many of Mr. Wodehouse's books ;)

      J.W.

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    3. Hello J.W.,

      It is marvelous that opera can be watched on the television (I'm assuming on a PBS station?).

      So happy to read that you are a fan of the wonderful and hilarious works of P.G. Wodehouse, a favorite of mine too.

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  7. When I was in boarding school in the 60's our school had a box both at Carnegie Hall and the Met. They took us on Saturdays and we got to spend the rest of the afternoon in the city. You know who signed up for everything! I just wanted to get out of school but as an aside got to see practically every single opera ever written. I didn't get to the "good ones", especially Aida until senior year, as seniority had preference, meaning I got stuck with my share of the German ones the first couple of years.

    What a wonderful way to expose your daughter to opera, she will always remember it I assure you. My first time was in Havana with La Boheme when I was that age. My aunt took me. Renata Tebaldi was Mimi. See, you never forget!

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    1. Hello Lindaraxa,

      What an impressive resume of opera performances you have under your belt, and to think all of it seen as a mere school girl, just wonderful! Am I to assume you've been back since or was it a sneaky way of escaping school?

      I do hope, as you state, that my daughter will never forget her first opera. It must have been thrilling for you to have your aunt take you to La Boheme back when you lived in Havana.

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    2. Dear HD,
      My 81 year old mother still maintains multiple subscriptions to the Metropolitan Opera so I grew up with classical music in all forms. My husband trained as a professional musician and we enjoy musical productions in Boston as well as the Met tickets my mother gives us as an annual holiday gift.
      Kudos for bringing Patience to the opera. Classical music in this country is struggling partly because children don't hear it as often in the formative years and often don't appreciate it as adults. The audiences are literally dying out.
      If Patience liked The Italian in Algiers, may I suggest Mozart's "The Magic Flute" or Verdi's "Aida" as follow ups? While nothing compares to attending a live performance, the Met Opera Live in HD in the AMC theaters is also quite good.
      Happy listening.
      KL Gaylin

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    3. My apologies, I meant CD not HD!
      KL Gaylin

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    4. How lucky you are to be receiving opera tickets each holiday as a special gift from your mother. I would love to attend an opera at The Met, or even your beautiful confection of a theater in Boston.

      Thank you for your suggestion of a follow-up opera for our daughter. I was looking ahead at the theater's schedule and see The Magic Flute is to be performed then so, yes, if we are available that will be opera number two.

      I do enjoy classical music (among other types) and often play it when I'm at home. Perhaps my daughter will appreciate it too later in life.

      Oh, and please, no apologies needed with regards to HD/CD. I was mortified to learn my consistent error recently with my beloved commenter, Bebe. I'd been addressing here as Babe!

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  8. What a lovely night you had. My first opera was La Boheme, which I have since seen several times. I am a fan of Verdi and Puccini, and a little Mozart. I have never gotten into Wagner (strangely my mother-in-law is his biggest fan).

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    1. Hello Lord Cowell,

      Yes, indeed, it was a marvelous evening of entertainment. I'm happy to read that you too are a fan of opera, and chuckled at your comment on your mother-in-law's taste in opera. Wagner is certainly much more serious and dramatic than Verdi, Puccini and Mozart, and perhaps I should give it a shot myself one day. Of course, each time I hear the name "Wagner" I can't help but hear The Ride of The Valkyries playing in my head!

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  9. Sounds like a top evening.

    I, too, am an opera fan and attend once or twice a year. That said, I haven't been terribly impressed with the local offerings for a very long time. There was a huge production of Wagner's RIng Cycle here last year that I would like to have seen but couldn't justify the cost ($1000 for the cheap seats!). But a friend went and enjoyed it very much.

    We regularly attend at other types of live music performance, as well as the ballet and the theatre. Actually I spent some of my very first pay cheque on a ticket to the theatre. Ballet and opera followed soon after and I've been hooked ever since (30+ years). Do you enjoy other performing arts, CD?

    Spud.

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    1. Dearest Spud,

      I'm terribly sorry but I've only just now seen this comment. For some odd reason, my email notification of this comment went directly into the "spam" folder, hence the oversight..

      However, I'm very glad to have read that you enjoy opera but I almost fell off my chair at the cost of a ticket to Wagner's Ring Cycle!

      We were fortunate to have attended a performance of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel at The Metropolitan Opera during our recent trip to New York over the Christmas break. This was my daughter's second opera and she loved every minute of it, as did we.

      In answer to your question, yes, we do enjoy other performing arts and attend the ballet when we are able to and also classical music concerts. In younger days, of course, it was all about rock artists and bands and CD would often be seen haunting such venues in London as The Marquee Club. Oh, those were the (heady) days of youth.

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