Thursday, January 29, 2009

Then, Lucky Me, I'm off to the Opera

Some readers could not tell if I really felt lucky or was being sarcastic yesterday. Blogging inarticulately, or ambiguously, apparently is a byproduct of insomnia and an overstuffed agenda.
Not sarcastic. I was not planning on going as the tickets were expensive and my daughter’s part was a tiny one. Things worked out that she knew someone that had an extra ticket for “Opera for Everyone” night. Perfect crowd for me, yes? She even said I could wear my jeans. And only six dollars.

The slight slippage of sarcasm, subconsciously of course, could only have been linked to work. Where things have been especially difficult lately. Not the students, although they can be difficult, they ARE teenagers after all. But the students are what they are and I love them on good days or bad. No, more the politics, the sometimes ineptness of the system. The fact that I spent the entire weekend at home trying to catch up and still feel overwhelmed.

HOWEVER….once I got to the opera it was amazing and wonderful. And I realized I had never been to the opera. Sure, I have seen it on the television. I have listened to it on NPR. One of my best friends over here was a voice major at UH (her voice teacher’s daughter is now my daughter’s voice teacher). I went to my friend’s graduation recital in 1984 and heard her sing opera in three different languages. But I had never EXPERIENCED opera before.

I discovered I loved it. I was like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. It grabbed my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Goose bumps on goose bumps. And yes, I realize this takes some of the juice out of my California Jam post.

Monon, a young and beautiful French girl on her way to the convent attracts the attention of two men. One is young, handsome, and, of course, poor. The other is old and rich. Her vacillating between the two causes her arrest and exile to America with a group of prostitutes. My daughter’s ten minute role was as one of the prostitutes getting sent to America on the ship with Monon. I could not have been prouder.

This scene is when her young lover finds her in the rich old man’s house and they reconcile.


My daughter says she can get me a cheap ticket to Carmen next month. I just have to go with her music class.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

How cool that you were able to go. I'm glad you enjoyed it. There is something about any type of theatrical production that just captures me (even the bad stuff).

I'm sorry to hear work is bogging you down. There's something about this time of year that does that to all of us teachers. I've been feeling a lot of the same stress. I hope it wears of quickly.

Anonymous said...

Oooo - I love going to the Opera, although I've only been a few times in my life (you're right - it ain't cheap). Go see Carmen with your daughter's music class!

I think my insomnia is catching up with me, though, because when you began describing the plot, I honestly read it as:

"Moron, a young and beautiful French girl on her way to the convent..."

Anonymous said...

What wonderful opportunity to see your daughter on stage. I've only seen the opera once, and it was lovely.

Pseudo said...

hehehehe "moron"

PS I'm putting my plastic bubble on before I go in today.

Mama Dawg said...

How neat! I've never been to the opera either, but would love to go one day!

Casey said...

Heh, sorry, that was me you were talking about (the one who wasn't sure if you were being sarcastic). I'm so glad you had fun at the opera and might get to go again! Did you say the Julia Roberts line when you went? Wasn't it something like "that was so good, I almost peed my pants"? I hope you were able to refrain from peeing! ;)

Pseudo said...

HA! I should have used that line as I hate to get up and wait in line during intermission so it would have been accurate.

Jack said...

What an experience! Attending an Opera is on my - ever growing- bucket list.

cheatymoon said...

I would love to see an opera live. Hearing any live music usually gives me goosebumps. Especially vocal music. It's so personal.

Sorry the politics continue to be difficult. We need a blog for this. Maybe a team blog that is private and only available to blog authors? That's pretty easy to set up on Blogger. Just thinking...

Sarah's Blogtastic Adventures said...

I have never been I can barely sit through a movie! How exciting for your daughter to be a part of that!

Pancake said...

Glad you were able to go AND in your jeans!! How nice to be able to be there for your daughter!!

Smart Mouth Broad said...

I have never been to the opera either. I would love to. You have to go with your daughter's class. And then please tell us all about it. Fun, fun, fun!

Anonymous said...

Carmen would be fabulous...lots of passion in that one...never seen it live, but oh my...the music i've heard...

and Movie has a point about the team blog for political bs rants...something like that might grow to be too big to manage solo...

i like the link you sent me yesterday for a similar bitching and posting site...but at first blush, it might not let me be quite as outraged as i feel i need to be LOL..

that being said...i''m probably going to test out the one you suggested, i need to see how to do it anonymously...

Hope today is PBS (political bs that is) free

mo.stoneskin said...

Blogging inarticulately is also a sign of genius - which you clearly are :)

Beth said...

Sounds like a great performance. And there is just something about hearing it live. I say go with the music class. You'll be so cultured!

derfina said...

I had no idea the human voice could be so powerful until I went to my first opera. Awesomeness!

Pseudo said...

I miss winter break when i could attend to my own comment thread.

Yes, incredible how powerful the human voice can be. I was amazed that they were not micced. That's how naive I was.

Am definately going to Carmen with the college kids.

Captain Dumbass said...

Opera is pretty amazing when you get to see it live.

Lori said...

Glad you got the chance to go and even in your jeans...nothing better then that! I love her part in it and that you couldn't have been prouder...lol!
So often it is the politic of work that is maddening more than anything...I hear this from many people. Hope you get caught up soon and get a chance to just relax!

Just B said...

I have been a bit dismissive of opera in the past, but my five year old, bizarrely enough, is a fan. She watches it on PBS and has perked my interest. Austin has a good opera house and I'm saving my money and waiting for us both to be a little older before we go:)

I'm so glad you enjoyed the show and I'm so sorry for the politics. Always amazed me how little the top tier cared about the actual students...sigh

Sunny said...

Glad you like Opera. It is a whole new world!

Mama Dawg said...

Tagged you in my latest post. It's a good one...it's about books.

Anonymous said...

I have never been to the opera either. But I'd love to! Of course, I'd love to go ANYWHERE!

David said...

It is wonderful that you went, and wonderful that you wrote about it. It opens all our minds and hopefullyw gets a few of us to do what you did.
Thanks!

bernthis said...

I've never been either and I lived in NYC for 11 years not far from Lincoln Center. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

creative kerfuffle said...

ok, i've never been to the opera but while i was reading your post i kept thinking of julia roberts in pretty woman (then of course i kept reading where you mentioned that! : ) ) i think i would like opera, it sounds awesome.

Joanie said...

I've never been to the Opera but I do love musical theatre. We try to go to NYC once or twice a year. I used to love to watch my older daughter, Gina perform in high school and college and now my younger daughter, Dani is following in her footsteps! Dani will be pursuing a degree in theatre this August.
I miss seeing Gina on stage (she works in radio now) but she did a 2 week stint in NYC last summer when she performed in the NY Fringe Festival. It was fun to see her onstage again!

Debbie said...

Someone just tried to sell me and my husband on getting season Opera tickets. No can do. But I am glad you had a good time.

Anonymous said...

I've gone to the opera a few times at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. A more powerful experience of music and passion writ large I have never had. Concerts, theatre, nothing compares to the beauty of people yelling in Italian with an full orchestra as supporting cast. Glad you enjoyed your experience.