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lobelia321I saw an opera last night.
T'h took me to London to see The Gambler, composed by Prokofiev (he of Peter and the Wolf fame) and based on a novella by Dostoevsky, at the Royal Opera House. This is only the third opera I've seen in my life. The last two were in the 1980s in Berlin.
I loved it!!!!!
What a brilliant discovery! It's like a whole new world that's available to me because we can go back for more and more and more. I loved: the architecture; the splendid interior (18th C., red and gold, high high ceiling, curved loges and balconies); the narrative music; the liveness of the music; the stage set omg!!!!!; the singing; the acting; the snappy funkiness; the coolness of Londoners; the atmosphere of before and during the interval with cool and chic and camp Londoners milling around in marvellous surroundings drinking champagne and eating tapas; the silver-haired gentlement with wide-brimmed hats and/or silk waistcoats and/or woollen scarves and/or kissing each other; the sheer Bollywoodness of it all.
I never knew: opera is total fun!!!
T'h took me to London to see The Gambler, composed by Prokofiev (he of Peter and the Wolf fame) and based on a novella by Dostoevsky, at the Royal Opera House. This is only the third opera I've seen in my life. The last two were in the 1980s in Berlin.
I loved it!!!!!
What a brilliant discovery! It's like a whole new world that's available to me because we can go back for more and more and more. I loved: the architecture; the splendid interior (18th C., red and gold, high high ceiling, curved loges and balconies); the narrative music; the liveness of the music; the stage set omg!!!!!; the singing; the acting; the snappy funkiness; the coolness of Londoners; the atmosphere of before and during the interval with cool and chic and camp Londoners milling around in marvellous surroundings drinking champagne and eating tapas; the silver-haired gentlement with wide-brimmed hats and/or silk waistcoats and/or woollen scarves and/or kissing each other; the sheer Bollywoodness of it all.
I never knew: opera is total fun!!!
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(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-12 06:31 pm (UTC)But I bet you'd rather have gone to the movies next door, why couldn't t.h take you there, eh.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-12 07:50 pm (UTC):-)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-12 07:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-14 12:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-14 07:50 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-15 05:18 am (UTC)It is indeed!
I find that there is a rough parallel between opera arias and Bollywood dance numbers in the way that they allow the audience to enter the interior world of the characters.
Arias in general don't advance the action or the plot of the opera, but the reason we listen to opera is to dwell on the finer points of the characters' feelings and thoughts.
(Think of when your best friend or favorite sibling falls in love and just goes on and on in detail about the object of their passion.)
Bollywood dances, aside from the awesomeness of the costumes and the dance steps, also dwell on the thoughts and philosophies of the characters. 'Haule haule' (\o/) from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is one example; it gives us insight into the attitude and philosophy of Suri Singh and maybe allows us to see more of what kind of guy he is and why he simply loves Taani the way he does in that movie.
::: fondles RNBDJ DVD secretively :::
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-17 10:06 pm (UTC)So do they have item numbers in opera, too??? ;-p Dard-e-disco could totally be operafied, couldn't it??
I have always loved narrative music. I think I've just been waiting for B'w to enter my life. So it's not really so strange that I should love the opera. Arias! That will be my next foray. Prokofiev doesn't have arias.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-20 05:06 am (UTC)*applauds* Oh yes! Everybody needs arias. I plan to post a list of recommendations for beginners, as a sort of brief guide to arias from Western operas.
As for item numbers, they do exist in opera but to a lesser degree. In many of the operas that were presented or premiered in Paris (Italian-language or French-language works), there is usually a dance number. Not nearly as impressive as what Bollywood produces, however.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-15 04:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-17 10:03 pm (UTC)