A night at the opera

[trusty elf]

These are from a wonderful production of the "Fairy Queen" at the Opéra Comique in Paris.

[Celebration]

1. Oh my!!

Look at that intricate set. Well, they can't exactly go minimalist in that building, can they?

These are just awesome. I can't tell you how long it has been since I have gone to an opera! Thanks for taking me there virtually.

I guess still pictures are okay there, but video not? I am impressed with your pictures in a rather low light situation. It must have been challenging.

[trusty elf]

2. Hi Celebration

Isn't the set great? I love it!

They do go minimalist is this theater sometimes, which can be good, but I enjoy elaborate and even sumptuous sets and costumes, and that's what this production has!
There are actors and dancers, as well as singers on stage, interacting in quite complicated ways, with gorgeous music by Henry Purcell, and the text of the play by Shakespeare. (Midsummer Night's Dream) This is performed by a fine cast of British and Irish actors.

I took these during rehearsals, and since I'm in the production, nobody minds my snapping pictures. :-)

Glad you like 'em!

:hi:

[Celebration]

5. That explains why the boxes are empty!

I hope you all have sellouts every night. What is your role in the production? I'm impressed.

[trusty elf]

8. Mmm-hmm!

I'm told that all six of the performances have been sold out for months!

What's my role? I was hired as a theorbo player. You can see my instrument just to the right of the double bass in the first photo. Together with the harpsichord and a viola da gamba or cello, we provide the harmonic foundation, and accompany the singers in their arias and recitatives. It can be quite a sport at times! There's a lot of room for improvisation, and in a way it's somewhat akin to what jazz players do.

Here's a picture of a theorbo :D

[Celebration]

11. Thanks!

That instrument looks straight out of the middle ages. I'm going to have to learn how to pronounce the name.

You probably know the history of musical instruments. When you go to New York (assuming it is NYC), if you haven't already been to the Metropolital Museum of Art musical instrument gallery, you should see it. I got lost in there one time. It was kind of purposeful. My husband was getting really antsy and I just couldn't get enough of seeing the historical versions of instruments. You would love it, if you haven't been to it already.

[Mira]

3. Finding these beautiful photographs turned my here to fore crappy day all the way around.

:)
They made me very happy, a gorgeous bullseye of a depiction of the goings on and the ambiance, it's just like being there. They made me miss "home". Which does not happen all that much.

I have been a lover of opera my whole life, and used to go to the Augsburg Stadt Theater when Istvan Kertesz conducted. Even as a child of 12 or so, I would go to the Opera all by myself.

Thanks, Trusty one, I love these.

[trusty elf]

4. Dear Mira,

I'm sorry you were having a bad day, but am delighted that these pics made you happy!

You were an unusual and precocious child to have been a lover of opera at the age of 12! When I was that young, I didn't have a clue!

I'll post a few more if I manage to take any good ones in the coming days.

:hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

6. Cool shots.

Excellent lighting.

[trusty elf]

9. Thanks Blue!

[JeffR]

7. What a marvellous building

and what a treat to get this production tour.

Would love to see more!

[trusty elf]

10. It's quite something!

The theater itself is not that big, so there's a sense of intimacy to it, which is nice.

I'll post a few more shots of the place.

Definitely a treat to be part of this production! It's going to New York in March-I'm really looking forward to that!

:hi: