Opera in the park!

[muckefuck]

Since no one ever reads my opera reviews (except off_coloratura looking to get name-checked), I'll cut right to the chase here: Don Giovanni last night was excellent. Possibly the best opera production I've ever seen at Chicago Opera Theatre (which is high praise indeed) and definitely in my top 5 of all time. It takes Lyric's recent production, rends it to strips, and stomps those into mucilage--and that show had Bryn Terfel in it!

You Chicagoans should take note for a very special reason: Next Friday starting at 7:30 p.m., the opera will be SIMULCAST FREE IN PRITZKER PAVILION. This is really an incredible opportunity to see one of the country's best opera company's do one of history's greatest operas in one of the city's best parks. Still dubious? Well, I here the kids love top-ten lists, so here are my

TOP TEN REASONS TO SEE COT'S DON GIOVANNI IN MILLENNIUM PARK

1. The music is by Mozart, who, you may recall, knew a thing or two about writing a really good tune.
2. The woman sitting next to us for last night's performance said that Mozart must be spinning in his grave. I agree, he is spinning...WITH DELIGHT!
3. The librettist is a cynical, salacious Italian impressario named Da Ponte, whose other collaborations with Amadeus were Così fan tutte and Le nozze di Figaro. Singly and collectively, these operas kick a helluva lot of ass.
4. The entire production is set in a Vegas. In a club. A strip club.
5. It has pole dancers. You will be able to boast to your friends you saw an opera with POLE DANCERS.
6. Every singer is solid. Even Krisztina Szabó, who disappointed us some in A kékszakállú herceg vára (Bluebeard's castle) redeems herself here with a stunning rendition of "Mi tradì quell'alma ingrata". IN SPIKED LEATHER THIGH BOOTS.
7. It boasts easily the freakiest Commendatore I've ever seen. (For those of you not familiar with the opera, this is the vengeful spirit of a character murdered in the first scene. Usually he's depicted as a marble statue. Here, he's a BLUE-FACED UNDEAD CORPSE returned to DRAG DON GIOVANNI DOWN TO HELL. I spent the whole penultimate scene literally on the edge of my seat gnawing away at my hand.
8. What else are you going to do on a Friday night? Stay home and watch Ghost Whisperer? Or Dreamgirls on HBO? You'll find more bare breasts in that, but not more violence or depravity--and it goes without saying that Don Giovanni has a way better soundtrack!
9. IT'S FREE. If you inexplicably hate it, you're not out anything but a little bit of your time.
10. Did I mention it's FREE?

Comments

[areia.livejournal.com]

Aw. I read you opera reviews, I just have no intelligent things to say about the topic. We don't have opera in my country, you see.

Seriously, this sounds fun. May have to check it out.

[richardthinks.livejournal.com]

I read them too, even though I have nothing to say, because I'm rarely outraged by the topic.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

I know, it's not like they're about food or something.

[richardthinks.livejournal.com]

precisely. The noblest of all the arts.

[bunj.livejournal.com]

Well, I appreciate the review, as I see it Tuesday. Considering how lukewarm von Rhein was, it's good to see you recommending it so highly. Sounds like I should remember to bring my opera glasses, though.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Nuphy mentioned something to that effect. What was the old fuddy-duddy's problem with it again?

[bunj.livejournal.com]

Basically that the Vegas setting didn't work. The class differences which drive part of the plot were not adequately conveyed in the new setting. He also felt it was too dark. Personally I think it's supposed to be dark, he's going to HELL. I think most productions are not dark enough, but the bluehaired set has less of a tolerance for that sort of thing than us young whippersnappers with our Mtv and Quentin Tarantino.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

That's right, I forgot: Heaven forbid an opera about an abusive murderous serial rapist be too dark. When Nuphy told me about his complaint, I thought at first he was talking about the lighting or something. (That was a real issue with Lyric's recent "Eurotrash Macbeth".) I guess he's too used to directors who basically ignore the libretto and instead design around the playfulness of Mozart's score--which is a legitimate approach, to be sure, but not IMHO the most interesting one.

I'm quite sensitive to the point about class differences, but I happen to think he's dead wrong. Masetto and Zerlina are portrayed as a working-class couple who are, respectively, intimidated and dazzled by a rich and powerful man. All in all, making him the owner of a strip club is a stroke of genius. As one of the choristers on the bus asked me, "It really brings out the sleaze, doesn't it?"

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

We were supposed to get a group together to see the live broadcast of that in a downtown theatre, but we never got around to it. It's too bad--we literally missed a show-stopper!

"Batti, batti..."

[ladysophis2k8.livejournal.com]

Mmm...curly fries. This would be where I would like to know in advance what your planning is -

[innerdoggie.livejournal.com]

Waaa! I wanted to go, but I am away this week.