There's a reason why going to an Garnier Opera gala in June doesn't make sense - even if it is Rossini's 'La Donna del Lago' which NY Times writer George Loomis describes as "rare as it is irresistible."
This is my fourth gala event: Ballet Russes at Garnier last December, La Somnambule at Bastille, and last week, La Donna del Lago at Garnier.
It's equally a 'rare and irresistible' occasion to attend ANY opera at Garnier because the majority of operas these days are performed at Bastille. However, here are some things that you won't read about in the NY Times Review!
First, a little nit-picking: In the libretto, King James V is referred to as Uberto, not Giacomo!
And according to Wikipedia, this June 2010 is the first performance of La Dame del Lago at Garnier! (I am always suspicious of 'first' anything) so I'd like confirmation on that . . . thanks Rochester Girl!
You must really LOVE opera to consider Garnier in June. In the middle of a heat wave, the third level loge turns into a veritable sauna. I can't imagine how the singers fared in Franca Squarciapino's voluminous and metallic garb.
One might rename this gala event June Madness. In sympathy with the transport strike protesting potential changes in retirement laws, the set crew decided to go on strike. Judging by the comments re Ezio Frigerio's stage sets, Garnier's bare stage and the painted landscape backdrop may have been an improvement.
Every opera has its hero - and in this case, Juan Diego Florez's performance was heroic considering that he agreed to perform in spite of being unwell. The announcement was made at the start of the opera.
It was also ironic that an opera that emphasized love of one's nation should be tainted by a strike. (Of course, hopefully strikes are staged because one loves one's nation and wants to make it a better nation!)
If you're not a seasoned opera buff (which is definitely my case), is it really worth fidgeting the second half of La Donna del Lago for a few truly exceptional moments? I was curious to hear Joyce DiDonato, all the way from Kansas, Colin Lee, from South Africa and Juan Diego Florez from Peru performing as the 'three corners of the world' united in one opera. That, in itself is exciting. Even more exciting is to learn that one gala member flew all the way from Japan to hear Florez. This Florez fan has been following him round the world.
For me though, the real hero wasn't on stage. He happened to be one of our tablemates at the Gala 'souper'. This was the kind of person who would see a homeless person on the street, and, rather than walk by him, he'd do his best to find him a place to stay. Sadly, at the end of the evening he mentioned that he suffered from an illness that would very likely render him crippled in a few years. His attitude was optimistic: see as much of the world as he could in the time that he was allotted.
If opera serves any purpose, it underlines the tragedy in our lives. When Dad spent his last four years in a veteran's hospital after a stroke, we would often bring in opera DVDs. Only opera (in my opinion) can translate human suffering - and give comfort. So, when you're bored or squirming when you listen to opera, it may mean that you should attend opera at the air-conditioned Bastille - or maybe you just haven't suffered much in life.
P.S. (The photo of the 'Opera Gala Souper' was actually taken last December. This year, I didn't take my camera but the Souper was held in the Foyer. You won't find a better stage set anywhere than the building itself and the foyer is the 'piece de resistance')
Well, as we were often told, it is right to be suspicious of "firsts" -- this is called the first production in Paris SINCE 1824! Still, it sounds like it was hot, but fun and those two singers were well worth hearing...wish we could have been there....nothing like that available right now in Glitter Town.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update!
Yes, I thought for sure I had read something about a 19th century performance at Garnier and that's why you have to be so careful about Wikipedia's accuracy - especially with 'firsts' remember Dad always said, avoid saying 'first' because no matter who says they're the first to do anything - it had to have been done before by someone else (and probably done better).
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