I'm sure I broke my mother's heart when I adamantly announced I wanted to play rock music, not sing opera as she did. After all, who sets out to grow up to be just like their mother?
A few weeks ago, my daughter (16) told me she wanted to study opera. After all, who wants to grow up to be just like their mother?
My little girl spent the third year of her life dressed like Cinderella. Her grandmother made the dress. I barely got her out of it long enough to wash the darned thing.
That gives you enough background to understand why, last week, when she asked me to take her to the Fort Worth Opera's performance of Rossini's Cinderella, I couldn't very well say no. It had been years since I attended the opera - something I did on a regular basis as a child, but only a handful of times since flying from my parents' nest. But, for my little girl, I'd bite the bullet, right?
Well, it was delightful! Because her student ticket only cost $5, I was able to purchase a much better seat for myself than if I'd paid full price for both of us. While we couldn't exactly see the whites of the performers' eyes, we didn't get nose bleeds, either.
The scenery was brilliant! The singers were cast well for their roles and their acting was every bit as fine as their voices. (How do they make their voices do those things!?!?!) The costumes were gorgeous. The makeup was a bit over-done on a few of the characters, perhaps adding a bit to the comedy, so I won't be too harsh there. Of course, Bass Hall is acoustically perfect. They even provided a screen just above the proscenium arch onto which English translations were projected. It was all quite enthralling and I was thoroughly entertained!
Despite the visual pageantry of the production, I had a hard time peeling my eyes away from the orchestra pit - more specifically the cellists. Well, cellos look a lot like double basses to me. You can stick a bassist in front of an opera, but she's still going to listen for the bass lines...and wear jeans.
Maybe I should pass on the set of CD's my mother gave me years ago, before I had kids: Opera for People Who Hate Opera. Except my daughter actually likes opera. If you can keep a secret, I'll confess that I sort of do, too.
Sort of.
Tell me, when was the last time you went to an opera? What about a different musical event you wouldn't normally attend? Did you come away with a new perspective or appreciation you didn't expect?
(Crappy photo taken with my iPhone.)
