Category — Opera

I feel as if I have so much to say about Carmen and yet nothing to say at all. I hated her for her flippant attitude and her overt and unabashed sexuality, and yet quite liked her for those exact same reasons. She was manipulative, cold, and selfish. But she was strong. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to get it. Like love, she was eternally free and would never be bound to anything or anyone. Maybe I admire that, the sense of freedom that allows her to live in honesty with her emotions and identity. But even though she was unafraid to act on emotion, she does so with a coldness that isn’t the normal tenderness that emotions should bring: she understands—and maybe prescribes—that her emotions will constantly change, and therefore she always changes. She has an effect on people, specifically her love on Jose. But it makes no difference to her. And that is something I despise: her inability to recognize anyone but herself. That’s exactly who she is, a gypsy constantly on the move—in physical space and in her heart.

Besides for the actual storyline, going to the opera was a great experience. I’ll admit, I grew pretty tired as the opera went on (come on, 3 hours is along time), and the constant flickering of my eyes back and forth between the stage and the translation wasn’t super comfortable either. But I liked being there, in that atmosphere, listening to the music of the show and marveling and the grand scenery that added so much. It was definitely a worthy experience.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to see “Carmen” with the class this Tuesday, but coincidently I had the opportunity to see part of it during high school for a class. We watched a practice run of the first act and then went backstage to see the set design, costume, and prop rooms. It was a really interesting experience to see how much went into an opera production besides the talent of the singers. While opera may not be my most preferred art form, I appreciate the intricacies of an opera. The training and practice the singers themselves go through is impressive in itself, but the visual aspect of the performance is captivating. The costumes and set are usually very ornate, and the fact that the singers sing at that volume and range while acting and dancing on stage is incredible.

Watching Amanda Hicks sing in a small room for our class was just really awesome. Her expertise in both singing and her knowledge of opera was enriching. I’m glad we could have that experience to watch a great opera singer so personally.

Where do I start with Carmen? The story itself was so intricate and not really what I was expecting, from the down fall of Don Jose’s character, to Carmen’s desire and hold to her freedom, I was pleasantly surprised of the entire story line. I loved how we could see Jose slowly fall deeper and deeper into basically his obsession and madness towards Carmen and his destruction, and how his two love interests paralleled each other. Carmen herself was such a complicated character that I don’t really know what to make of her, which I love. The first impression I got of her was just a tremendous manipulative flirt who knew she was attractive, and used her looks to get whatever she wanted.  That image of her continued for me throughout the entire opera until the very last scene where she says she rather die than live without her freedom. That line for me really changed my perspective of Carmen and had me pause and review all her past actions, and see even though she was manipulative and selfish, she was also a strong woman who refused to live her life on anyone else’s terms. In general, I enjoyed the opera, most likely because of the story of Carmen and the interesting music that was performed.

Due to religious reasons, I was unable to attend the class where the guest, Amanda, came to introduce the art of opera to us. Therefore, my perception of the opera before that Thursday made a complete 180 degree change once I actually saw it. I expected to watch a single woman dressed in an elegant attire sing “opera” for three hours straight without any interaction with other characters. I thought the ONLY pre-requisite to perform in the opera was to just be able to sing with a distinctly powerful voice. But I was so wrong.

When the curtain was raised, I was confused to see multiple men on stage. Already I knew that this performance was not going to meet my expectations in any way. There were so many aspects that I appreciated at the end of the show- the acting, the obvious vocal talent, the scenery, the costumes, the dances, and most importantly, the perfectly captured emotions. I enjoyed my time in the opera more than I thought I would. I really appreciated that the venue provided us with subtitles in front of us because without them, it would have been way too difficult for me to understand what was going on. However, our seats were rather high and so I didn’t have such a great view of the actual performance.

[The woman who played] Carmen’s ability to show her emotions was undeniable. Even though we were so high up, I still felt her passion. She was a little too provocative for my taste (giggle), but she was really able t0 insert so much drama into the performance. Don Jose bothered me a little with his constant mentioning of his homeland and his mother, but he too was able to give his character the appropriate emotion he deserved.

In class we discussed how the opera being in French obstructed our understanding of the content. I definitely agree with that concept, but would like to just add that this language is so beautiful that I think if it were to be in English, it wouldn’t be as audibly pleasing.

I honestly don’t think I’ll be running with excitement to my next opera experience because of its length and my preference of broadway shows. However, it feels incredible that I can say that I’ve been to an opera at all. It’s something that I’ve always been curious about and I feel very accomplished that I did it. I feel more cultured in a way and it’s really awesome. Thanks Professor Ugoretz!

When I went to the opera, I expected to enjoy the experience more than the actual opera. After I went to the opera, I found I enjoyed the actual opera more than the experience.

I was not expecting the opera to resemble a play or a show. The singers are also actors and there were actual sets. Not only was I surprised by the sets, but also I was also surprised that they moved and turned. The actual opera, the singing and acting, was my favorite part of the opera because I was not expecting much. I my mind, I picture singers on a stage, singing a play or performance. Similar to script reading, only the script is being sung.

However, I think I would have enjoyed the opera much more if I could see the singers/actors closer and if I could hear them better. I now know that they were singing without microphones and I know that it is amazing that their voices could fill the opera house like that, but I wanted to feel the music the way I did when Amanda Hick sang to the class. I know people probably say this all the time, but when Amanda sang to us, I literally got chills. I was also battling with looking at what was happening on the stage and reading the subtitles. I wish I understood French or that I had shut the subtitles off and just watched the opera.

I think I understood and I actually enjoyed the opera because I could follow the storyline. I understood that Carmen was meant to be this temptress and how she could ruin a character like Don Jose. She was very seductive and so willing to use her sexuality to get what she wants. She used it to wield this power and have men almost worship her. Don Jose gave up everything for her until he went mad. I also think I was expecting the opera to be so dramatic, similar to a Shakespearean tragic play.

Unfortunately, I was extremely uncomfortable while watching the opera. There wasn’t much room for my legs, not that I have long legs, but I get fidgety and I like to cross my legs. I did not have the room to do so. The velvet seats, although nice, were creating a wardrobe malfunction. Every time I would slide off or on the chair, the friction between the velvet and my jeans would pull my pants down. Not lying. And I just kept thinking about how uncomfortable I was the whole time. However, the velvet on the stairs and the giant chandelier were absolutely stunning. The chandelier looked like an explosion of beautifully shard glass.

I think I am ambivalent about my opera experience. I don’t want to say I liked it because there were things about it that I did not like and I don’t want to say I hated it because there were things I liked about it. I think if I ever get the chance to go again, I will definitely shut the subtitles off, pay attention to the seat choice, and wear a belt.

THE BALLET

The ballet was very surprising to me. I was of the impression that ballet was stiff, boring, and only for old people. When I saw Fancy Free about the sailors having a night on the town, I was totally impressed. Although it wasn’t the traditional form of ballet and reminded more of regular dance, it was funny, lighthearted and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My favorite though, was the Lilac Garden. The dancers played their parts so well and it was incredibly easy to follow the story even though there were no words. The end was really sad when she ends up actually going through with the marriage. The only thing that bothered me was the wardrobe for the women. They were all wearing long dresses that went down to their ankles. I though this took away from the grace and technique that characterizes ballet. All in all i though it was great. I would have never expected to enjoy it. Ballet is definitely a beautiful form of art.

THE OPERA 

The opera was actually a really interesting experience. The opera house itself is the largest of the three buildings in Lincoln Center. The sheer size and look of the building was really beautiful. The day Amanda came to teach us about opera, when she sang it was amazing. Her voice reverberated throughout the entire floor of the building. Our seats were really high up and the singers’ voices did not have the same power and effect as that day in the classroom. Even so I was very impressed at the various elements that are incorporated into an opera; singing, acting, and even dancing were a part of the show. I honestly think it was a bit long however. The story seemed to drag on in various parts and by the end I was getting a bit restless. Nevertheless Carmen was a really great show the emotion that is so characteristic of opera is what made me fall in love with it. I will definitely go back if I ever get the chance

Just like the ballet, I have had zero experience with the opera.I am however a huge fan of classical choral music which this opera reminded me of. The opera however had many differences from what I normally sing in a choral setting. What really stood out to me was the skill that the singers, orchestra and cast had. Its amazing that such a large opera house was filled with the sound of a pure human voice without the help of any microphone. Carmen is definitely not one of the easier works to perform but it revealed to me how talented these performers were. Everything from the set construction, to the costumes, to the performances reveled the amount of work and dedication that goes into being an opera singer.

Everything about the opera revealed the years of history and hard work behind it. I thought to myself how well the opera house was structured and built so that sound could carry all the way to the topmost level of the hall. The atmosphere carried years of tradition with it. The audience was extremely respectful toward the opera which was interesting to see especially when cell phones went off. Overall the opera was a great experience in which I enjoyed a different style of singing which I love and enjoy.

The past 2 weeks the Macaulay honors class visited the Lincoln Center to appreciate the art forms of ballet and Opera

BALLET

Although my younger sister is a dancer, going into the ballet I honestly did not know what to truly expect. That said when we first began to walk into the building as a class I was definitely astounded. It is by no means an architectural marvel yet the building gave up a sophisticated vibe. When the Ballet started I certainly wasnt expecting the silence that came right after the band started playing. The three dances were absolutely impressive and I was clearly able to see the amount of talent and practice that needed to go into the performance and make it as great as it was. I preferred the second dance about the temptress because I really enjoyed the orchestras slow songs and felt at ease during the performance as opposed to the first which i simply did not like as much and the third which i was surprised about because it wasnt the classic ballet. The Ballet truly opened up my eyes to a new classical world, as previously stated i did not know if i would have enjoyed the show but overall, I can say that it broadened my horizons. If i was given another opportunity I will most certainly go again.

OPERA

Without a doubt the Opera was a huge surprise for me. Walking in I believed I would hate every second of it. That said I took the advice the Professor and Amanda Hicks said and “let it in”. I was astouunded by the performance of Carmen and really loved the story. Being surrounded by friends helped ease me into the situation but i enjoyed the opera much more than i thought i wouldve. 2 things really stuck out to me; If the show was shorter I wouldve liked it much more and that my favorite part was the interactive stage that moved in a circular motion to fit the scene of the show. As Previously stated, I did not believe I would like the opera yet i think the mix of classical music (something i have an affinity towards) and a beautifully written story truly broke through my personal barrier. I loved seeing how every word had true meaning and how their connotations were expressed through the show. I also loved the foreshadowing and was able to really follow along making me know for a fact that I would go to another opera if given the chance and if it is not 3.5 hours long.

Tuesday night at the opera left me with this feeling of electric energy. Carmen perplexed me the entire show with her seductive, cold, and nonchalant attitude, yet she was still able to put off feelings tenderness and care at the same time. Carmen was full of fire the entire show and I couldn’t wait in every scene to see what she was going to do next. Her seductive nature was first shown in the first scene in a very underrated way. She sang her first song while she was washing her legs where she lifted up her dress to show her body and when the men stared, she splashed them away. What was extremely shocking to me though was the seductiveness and sexuality played in the opera. As a watcher of many broadway plays, I was most definitely not used to characters in a live play being so “intimate,” but it was an eye opener and an experience. A main person who disappointed me in the opera was Don Jose, who at first showed characteristics of a timid solider who loved his mother and his city and who promised to marry Michaela, to a desperate, raging man.
The opera did make me question what true love really is, and it showed me that there are a million different interpretations as what love means to every individual. In the opera, I found it funny how the characters fell in love with each other in a second, but it just taught me that we can’t judge people for how they love.

Going to Lincoln Center in order to watch Carmen was really Cool. Although it was scary not knowing where Mr.Ugoretz was, finally getting into the beautiful theatre was just an amazing feeling. Being so high up from the stage it did bother me, since I had a hard time seeing any of the performers and being able to distinguish one performer from the other. I tried my best during some performances just to try to see who was singing. I really thought that the fact that you couldn’t see the translations from other people’s screens, who were on your side, was cool, but you were able to read off the screen in front of you.

Watching the performance I was amazed by the singers. I mean although it would have been nice to hear the singing a little bit louder, the fact that those singers were able to project their voices so far up was amazing. I really liked all the singing that went on since for the most part the singing when along with the way the performers were acting and it was an amazing show when you combined the two. I honestly feel that the length of the opera wasn’t so bad since according to a friend of mine “most hindi movies are 3-5 hours” so the fact that our performance was three hours wasn’t so bad. Honestly I think that if the performance were longer it would still be a good show, since many people seem to enjoy the theatre partly due to the environment and the experience they have being able to just be engulfed by the show.

Overall I did really like going to carmen. I probably will wanna go see some other operas later in the future, such as ones done by Mozart.