The curtain goes up,
The curtain goes up,
It's a wonderful moment,
When the curtain goes up.
~ Betsy and Tacy go Downtown
Yesterday, I had the wonderful privalage of visiting the Lyric Opera House, to the Barber of Seville, an opera by Gioachino Rossini. (That's the ceiling above, of course. Where else would it be? =) It was great! My debut to opera going was a "birthday presant" from a good friend of mine. (She's the one reading the program, under the ceiling, known to my blog readers as "Miss March")
One note, there are no photo's of the actual opera, because picture taking is illegal. *sigh*. So, I'll just tell you about it. The Barber of Seville, is about ,ahem, the barber of Seville. Actually, it's, mainly about this count who is in love with this beautiful girl, Rosina, the ward of the "1000 year old" Dr. Bartolo. The count is in disguise as a man without money, because he want Rosina to love him for himself, not his money. Dr. Bartolo is also in love with Rosina, and plans to marry her. He knows that Lindoro (AKA the count) loves Rosina, so he keeps her locked in the house. The Count then enilsts the aid of Figaro, the barber and "general factotum", to help him meet Rosina.
There's that ceiling again.
Anyhow, so eventually Rosina and the count get married, wearing, um, rather odd outfits. (The costumes amd designs for them are, I belive, seen only in this version, so you'll never see them anywhere else.) The count and Rosina -now countess - are both wearing outfits made of really bright blue material - this color blue - with big white clouds printed all on the material. Oh yes, and tons of sequins and other glittery stuff. Interesting...
So, in case you can't tell from the picture above, at least one person had a lot of fun. (Yeah, a lot of fun, gauging that expression. That's Miss March's sister.)
Did I mention we got box seats? This is the view of the opera floor and all those people who didn't get box seats. I think they had fun too. (Sounded like it, anyway.) =)
No, this is not the ceiling! It's the wall. (Next best thing.)
So yeah, we had fun.
And for all of you Fairy Tale novel fans who might be curious, I didn't wear outfits like Blanche or Rose's when they went to the opera, only because I don't have outfits like that. I wore this cool bright red skirt with white polka dots all over it instead, and you can't see it in the picture. Ps. So sorry for all of you, but I sadly was killed yesterday in a Twizzler duel with Miss March's sister. (Remember, the person having fun? Those pictures were taken after she got me.) So, I'm dead right now. I apologize to you all.
What fun! And what a beautiful opera house! (Almost as lovely as the Opera Garnier in Paris!) I love the Betsy Tacy quote!
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you had fun at the opera :)
ReplyDeleteHmm, reminds me of a theatre in nearby Woonsocket, though it has some paintings I could easily tear out...but still, that classical look.
ReplyDeleteMay Lady Rose Rest in Peace... ;)
Fun post, Amanda. :) I enjoyed reading about your, um, adventures!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Claire
Master Xavier, thank you for your condolences... I think. Flowers can be sent to, um, the comments.
ReplyDeleteGuess Who: Miss March? Grace? Veronica? Megan? Some one else?
Elena: Love that quote too! It was the first thing I thought of when the curtain went up!
How exciting! I've always wanted to attend an opera. I saw your list of music and you and I have a lot of the same taste in music. God bless!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a fun time:D!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had so much fun! I just love the opera. I went a couple times last year... I saw La Cenerentola by Rossini and Manon Lescaut by Puccini.
ReplyDeleteI did not get a box seat, more's the pity! In fact, in all my theater-going experience, I have never had a box seat. I envy you!
For Manon Lescaut, however, I did dress up... a pretty cream dress with a beautiful lace wrap! It was fun going out afterwards and seeing all the looks I got.
I am sorry to hear that you got killed =(
ReplyDeleteActually, we were only able to get box seats, because it was a Student Matinee - which meant about $17-$19 for seats normally $175-$300! (Did I get the prices right?)
ReplyDeleteI got to go out after this opera too! With my wonderful friends who picked me up so I could go. It was fun!
It was a fun day wasn't it!! I'm terribly sorry to have killed you with a twizzler, but what a "sweet" way to go...okay, I'm really bad a puns. =)
ReplyDeleteYes you got the prices right.
And to anyone wondering, the costumes (the blue ones with the clouds) were extremely odd. Though the chairs hanging from the ceiling were odd too (part of the set). Good opera, with unusual ideas about costume and set.
Anyway, I'm so glad you could come, Amanda! You'll have to tell me about where you went out afterwards. I wish we could have, but we had to get my cousins home.
God bless,
~Jo March
btw, those pics of my li'l sis are hilarious!!! She has the same expression on her face in each photo...as a matter of fact, she often makes that face for photos. She is rather goofy, but then again, my whole family is.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd like to claim the prize of being the goofiest (as Amanda could attest to), though perhaps not the loudest.
Sorry to get off topic!
~Jo March
Amanda, I really enjoyed this post and laughed out loud at these pictures of Miss March's sister. Did you know that she is shy??? What a lovely memory of the day! Just one tiny correction. The people on the front half of the first floor had box seats we had DRESS CIRCLE seats and yes they typically go for $175.00 each. People asked how we were able to get such good seats and my only reply is that "God is good!" Thank you again for the wonderful post! God love you, Mrs. Holmen
ReplyDeleteMiss March's Sister, The Narnian, really hasn't Killed Amanda YET!!!!
ReplyDeleteBut she is planning a most painfull one for you, Amanda!!!! MOO HA HA !!!
~ The Narnian
Nooooooo!!!!!!!! Help! Save me!
ReplyDeleteAmanda I'm getting a lesson on how to post on your blog from Miss March. Love, Miss March's Mom - the computer illerate Mom
ReplyDelete