Sex. Love. Death. Music. Opera.
If you read my post from June 2nd, you remember I said we were going to make it to the opera this season. I am happy to report that we did indeed. Bizét's "Carmen", live at the New York Metropolitan Opera, was my first opera experience ever.
The opera house at Lincoln Center was a perfect place for me to lose my opera virginity. I find it a masterpiece of modern architecture because it manages to be both spectacular and accessible at the same time. The huge windows, behind which hang enormous paintings by Marc Chagall, frame an amazing chandelier, which gives a real feeling of opulence. But the rest of the place emphasizes function over form and the terrific sight lines and accoustics make it easy to enjoy the show from almost anywhere in the room. The result is a place that, to me, is there for all to enjoy one thing - great music.
As for the show itself: if ever there was a woman to whom a guy like me should lose his virginity it is Carmen. She is sexy, smart, confident, and dangerous. From the moment you lay eyes on her you know your life will change.
This was my experience, anyway, watching the Metropolitan Opera’s 2010 production, with Elina Garanča in the title role. From the moment the curtain went up I was intrigued. Once she sang the Habanera, during the first act? Well, forget it. Killing for more would not have been out of the question.
Many of us have gotten involved with someone like Carmen: someone who is impossibly attractive, out of our league and yet somehow interested in us. That person pulls us into their orbit - we go willingly but with some fear and more than a little disbelief. They happily share themselves with us, and we become easily addicted. As with any addiction, we crave more and more and are willing to do ever crazier things to satisfy that craving. We know it will end badly but we do not care.
If we were lucky, this happened while we were in junior high, or at summer camp or some other place in our life that didn’t require someone to die. We did not end up like poor Don José.
As a first opera, Carmen is very similar. It is full of seductive melodies and unbridled sensuality. As it is opera, you might start with the feeling that it is out of your league. But very early on you realize it couldn’t be more accessible, nor more enjoyable. Unlike the fiery heroine, who leads a man to madness and herself to her own tragic end, the opera Carmen shows you just how entertaining opera can be.
My only regret is having stayed chaste for so long.
One final note: I knew the singing was going to be spectacular, but I did not realize it would be happening simultaneously with so much acting and action: knife fights, dancing, lovemaking - all while singing opera! At one point Ms. Garanča gets hoisted into the air and carried around, nearly upside down, all the while holding a long, high note. Encroyable!
Watch more here.
