Knowing myself, and knowing what I thought an opera was, I did not think I would have enjoyed the opera slightly. However, Tuesday nights opera really didn’t meet my expectations. The opera was different than the typical opera I thought it would be like. I really enjoyed the story line, the humor, and the stage. If it wasn’t for the subtitles behind each seat, I would not have known what was going on, so that was very helpful!
Shakespeare’s play incorporates three distinct realms – that of the humans, the fairies, and the men who put on the play in a play.
The orchestra was great! Every contour and style of music seems fitted and imaginatively to characters and mood. The curtains between intermissions slowly rose up and down, like breaths in a deep sleep, and lullabies, which all tied into the theme of night, dreams. The stage looks like a modern day diorama with stars and moon inside a black frame. Inside, you had things like mountains, a forest, and a tree branch connecting the four neon doors. It felt similar to how a Shakespeare play would have looked and been performed in Elizabethan times.
My favorite part of the opera was the children’s chorus. It both looked and sounded beautiful. It was very in sync and rhythmic; it was just was very enjoyable to watch.
I know it was Shakespeare’s play, but I would have hoped that the way the end played out between the four humans would have been a bit different. Im one of those helpless romantics and would have enjoyed seeing it a little more dramatic and unfolded a bit better.
It was overall a very enjoyable and classy night!

There were many pictures which struck my eye. In many of them, I kept thinking about what the photographers were thinking while taking some photos as well as trying to put myself in the place of the people in the photos on the lower level. My grandparents came through Ellis Island, so it was cool seeing how people looked back then, and at the same time seeing those photos made me sad because many of the people looked troubled and looked like they had been through and gave up a lot to get to where they were. What really took my by surprise were the pictures and fliers about child labor. I was able to look up one of the pictures that got to me.

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In this picture, the photographer exposes the grim tragedy of child labor. The image depicts a young girl standing in a factory. I believe that the photographer effectively conveys the strong message that child labor is a dangerous reality, although beyond the obvious concepts of hazard and risk, has consequences that are emotionally nasty. By looking at a child who appears visually helpless and overwhelmed, one is compelled to think about the psychological effects of facing grueling, manual tasks at an immature age. The two overarching, endless walls of heavy machinery seem to overpower the girl’s innocence, perhaps a reflection on the photographer’s part of her state of mind. Certainly, it is alarming to think of the dreadful cognitive and behavioral, not least physical, impediments the girl might endure as a result of her position. Naturally, the question poses itself: what kind of world brought a girl of such youth to her knees, forcing her into the unforgiving milieu of neglect and abuse? What dream of one day becoming a doctor or teacher can she aspire to whilst trapped in an inferno of iron, steel and coal, or an abyss of spinning reels and sewing machines? Taking this a step further, one begins to think about the clothes on one’s body and wonder whether this girl, or others in her position, once sweated over its creation in exchange for food, lodging, or low pay.

Hi everybody! I hope I am writing in the correct section.
I have to say that I can officially call myself an amateur when it comes to jazz- I have never really listened to it- ever. However, I found last nights performance to have been phenomenal. I absolutely loved it.

Besides for it being so soothing and relaxing. One of my favorite pieces was ‘Ah, Rio’ because it was upbeat, fun, and just sounded so different than anything I have heard- in some ways, I was able to paint a scenario and story in my mind.

What amazed me was how these 4 instruments came together and played those songs. For example, I never heard the Bass specifically and never knew what its importance and role it played in music but after last night, jazz wouldn’t be jazz (in my opinion) without it. While Carl Allen had his drum solo, you were able to faintly hear the Bass in the background, and when it stopped, the whole piece didn’t sound the same. It amazed me how much of a role each one of these instruments played in the show.

I also liked how the music was in a way, unpredictable. The songs I listen to have words, therefore making me know what part of the song would be next. I usually know if it is rock, slow, pop, and so on. In many of the pieces last night, I found that there was a mix in each piece- starting off slow and then getting fast and pumping… and I didn’t expect that! Anything went. At some points, when only the drums and piano were being played, I actually thought it was weird how both played a different tune or different melody that brought a different mood, but when they call came together, that was the beauty of it.
(Sorry for all my rambling…)
Lastly, the 4 men really engaged in the music and that also made it more enjoyable. For example, when 2 of the men had a solo, the other two gazed at them smiling and looking like they were enjoying the music and even when playing together, there excitement and happiness was almost tangible.
Overall, a great night with a great experience 🙂

Take 2 haha… So bad at these things 🙂

**Please excuse my niece’s bear!