Cinderella

So tonight...
I need a breather so I see Cendrillon (Cinderella) at NYC Opera. This was the first opera I did when I was a little 19 year old in college. I had a pretty good seat and was thrilled to see the production updated and set in the 1950s. It actually worked quite well and was very charming, as I think Massenett intended for it to be. The music is exquisite in itself and while I think some of the staged interludes just didn't make sense I do believe the music took care of so much itself. The acting was good...the singing for the most part couldn't be heard the best-I suppose most of this (from previous experiences at City opera) is that the orchestra plays so damn loud. My favorite of the evening was the tenor who played Prince Charming. Not only was he dreamy in every way (or at least from where I sat) but he had such a refined voice that reminded me so much of Juan Diego Florez. He knew what he could do and he didn't push that in any way to try to be something else. The baritone was also on the top of my list-especially his beginning aria which was stunning because his navigation through the passaggio (which there's tons of) was flawless. Now..........................
the WORST part was the people sitting around me. NYC audiences are well known for being some of the best and some of the worst-the worst in terms of manners, which apparently flew out the window with everyone sitting around me tonight. Generally I'm not a snob at the theatre--ok I understand you wanna be comfortable and sometimes you have to do some things-but this is NOT your damn living room. The first problem was that there were 4 girls who came in 10 minutes late and sat three seats down from me. They kept opening up their cell phone...ok after a while I can ignore this...then they talk and carry on a conversation which of course causes the purple haired ladies in front of them and their equally snobby old husbands to turn around and give the looks from hell to these girls to shut up. It apparently didn't work. I couldn't figure out who I was more irritated with, the girls or the old bitchy people. I was just thrilled to see young people there-but someone just needs to show them theatre etiquette. Then the guy sitting to my left decides this is his nap time...and not only that but he was a mouth breather. I'm a mouth breather sometimes so I normally wouldn't knock another fellow mouth breather-but this guy was loud. He started snoring in the second act and after I had enough I nudged him slightly because it was way too loud. I begin to chuckle to myself because the whole evening just seemed funny. At intermission I left to go to the bathroom and see some of the art around the opera house, a good 10 minutes went by. I went back and there was a coat on my seat. As I'm looking at this the girls sitting by me were being lectured by the old cranky ass man in front of them, which an usher nearby. I was quite thrown off by the man and his hard words for these girls who were probably not even 20 and didn't know any better. I always believe there are kinder ways of going about some things-one doesn't have to be mean about it. I start to move the coat thinking it's the girls beside me. A man standing above me says that it's his. I said "well this is my seat." "No it's not," he sternly replies. "Uummm yeah actually it is," I say in a rather calm but don't fuck with me I've had a long week type of voice. So of course I go and pull out my ticket and he still disagrees with me. So I say "ok well there's one empty seat down on the end, I'll take that-will that work for you?" "I can't move up if you want," he says in a softer tone. "No it's fine." I couldn't help but just laugh at this situation after I sat down thinking that really the house was not even full-I could have sat anywhere...or rather HE could have sat anywhere but of course he chose MY seat.
The opera begins after intermission and I'm trying my best to just hope and pray that the heavy breathing stops, the bitchy looks stop, and all will be bliss in opera land. This worked for about 40 minutes actually, until this elderly man decided to have a conversation with his more elderly wife in the middle of one of the quietest arias. Again people turned and gave looks-but this time there were voices saying "be quiet." Finally they were...then I hear scuffling and the man is putting his glass into a bag that zips up so of course this is the loudest thing. He then shoves it under his seat, stands up and prepares to exit. This was almost the final distraction of the evening until heavy breather beside me, who is half asleep still, decides to have a coughing spell and share with everyone around him. Who needs a damn flu shot when you live in New York? Just being in public is enough to build up your immunity and give you the damn flu. haha The opera ended and it was great.
Seeing it brought back some wonderful memories of my first performance on the opera stage and everything that surrounded it. I was sophomore in college-I was so excited to be doing this opera and it seemed at the time that everyone in the show had the most amazing voice. It was triple cast which was insane. Two people who are still my best friends were in the show with me. I haven't seen either of them in some time-but it's a reminder of how life just keeps moving on.
My feet are killing me today from walking. I had to put on shoes I haven't worn in a while because my pair I adore wearing got busted up. I'm still waiting on my winter coat to arrive...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr it's getting cold! Still no news on the apartment and when we can actually step through the door-but hopefully VERY soon!! This probably sounds like quite the pessamistic blog-but I'm feeling quite the opposite right now.
Tomorrow will be a good day...sleeping in a bit is wonderful. I have rehearsal and then HAVE to do laundry. I've considered cutting my hair short again-but think I am going to stay with it growing longer for now. When I had it long back in 2003 it was different-I didn't give it enough time. So hopefully I can stick it out...otherwise I may go back to short-which will be fine too.
Tutto il posto!
-Justin