At The Opera

I had some experience with opera before going to see Carmen at Lincoln Center, so I had some idea of what to expect.  However, when the show started and I saw the stage turn, my mind was blown right from the start by the amazing set the show had.  I can’t say that opera is one of my favorite forms of art, but I do enjoy listening to it every now and then.  It is very impressive to see the singers able to reach the back of the theatre with no microphones and only their voice. Actually the whole show was impressive; the set, voices, music, dancing, everything was spot on.

The only thing that I can say was not so great, was the length of the show.  It came out to a little over three hours, but it felt like seven.  I love going to the theatre and seeing shows, but this was just way to long. A part of me feels thats what our culture has turned story telling into.  T.V. shows are only in 30 min to one hour  intervals with breaks in between those!  At the Opera we just had one… It was just so different to see, the singers/actors explain their emotion.  It is usually just implied but most of the time, at the opera, they would sing on about it for quite some time.  They would even sing about an action before doing it! This was a main reason for it being quite long.

Regardless of the length, I did have a few favorite parts, well two to be exact.  Surprisingly, both of these parts were at the end of the show.  My first was when the overture music (which I’m in love with) was playing and the bull fighter was walking in.  The colors of costume, the roses falling, and the music just created such a great atmosphere I fell in love with.  My other favorite part was when the stage turned at the end and there was the imagery between the death of Carmen and the death of the bull.  Says so many things about the opera, some that we went over in class.

All in all I would probably go see another Opera if I had the opportunity.   It is defiantly something everyone should experience even if they come out not liking it.  It is just so different than what we see and hear every day that it will defiantly give you something to think about after you leave.  Next time, I would like to see one that maybe just a little bit shorter!