thatoperablog

[thatoperablog]

The Magic Flute by Mozart

About The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute, or Die Zauberflote, composed in German by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1791, is considered to be one of the greatest operas in history. Essentially, it's about a prince trying to rescue the love of his life from a villain, and a silly bird catcher maturing into a man and finding himself a girl. The opera is filled with crazy characters, including spirits, witches, a fierce dragon, a prince and a princess, a queen, a god, and even a weird looking hag. Today, The Magic Flute is the most frequently performed opera world wide -- and once you see it, you’ll know why.

“Don’t Miss This Moment” Moment

“Der Holle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen” (Hell’s vengeance boileth in my heart)-The Queen of the Night’s aria, Act II Scene 3.

An aria is a word used to describe a musical piece written for a solo voice, usually with a distinct melody and an accompanying orchestra. The aria's range is two octaves, and requires a very high tessitura. In case you have absolutely no idea what this means, just imagine someone singing at a pitch that breaks glass. If you enjoy arias, the best recordings of this specific aria are with Lucia Popp or Natalie Dessay. You can check it out on youtube later – do it!

And finally, let the show begin!

Even the Smurfs love it

Characters (in order of appearance)

Tamino- The attractive prince (imagine your celebrity crush) *sigh*

Three Ladies- Servants to the Queen of the Night. The queen is like that girl (insert roommate, popular chick) you hate and the ladies are her minions.

Papageno- Literally the bird man. He catches birds for the Queen of the Night. Basically, he’s a bum.

Queen of the Night- She rules the sky. She can be very mean and is the type of person you do not want to encounter on a bad day.

Pamina- The damsel in distress (a.k.a. princess and daughter of Sarastro, the Sun God, and the Queen of the Night. No big deal.)

Monostatos- The bad guy: chief slave of temple, a.k.a. Sarastro’s right hand man. Oh yeah, and he’s sort of like a slimy rat; insanely creepy.

Sarastro- The Sun god; he is very powerful, very intense. He is like the school- principal, an all-powerful being that everyone has to obey or else they will face death.

Papagena- The bird lady.

   Plot Overview

Setting: A magical land between the sun and the moon.

ACT I

The curtain rises, and Tamino, the handsome young prince enters. He is trying to escape the clutches of a ferocious dragon when the Three Ladies find him. They watch as he has an epic battle with the humongous dragon, eventually slaying it with his sword. Shocked at his own success, Tamino stumbles and faints. The ladies think Tamino is absolutely mind-bogglingly handsome and they fight about who should go gossiping to their ruler, the Queen of the Night, about the brave prince. They decide to tell her together. After they leave, in comes Papageno. 

Just as the prince wakes, still delirious from his spell, Papageno, pompously boasts to him (lying, trying to trick the confused prince), “Oh yeah baby! I killed the dragon. I got that son of a gun!” The Three Ladies enter and accuse Papageno of lying, and decide to place a padlock around his mouth so he can’t speak. Then the three ladies show Tamino a picture of the beautiful Pamina, The Queen of the Night’s daughter. She has been captured by The Queen of the Night’s supposedly evil enemy, Sarastro, the sun god. Despite the fact that Sarastro is her daughter’s father, the Queen loathes him. 

As they are talking the Queen of the Night appears and tells Tamino that if he rescues Pamina, she will allow him to marry her. When she leaves, magical Spirits appear out of nowhere to give Tamino and Papageno the tools they will need soon to save a human life: a golden flute, and a set of chimes. Obviously. 

The two rush to the temple and split up, searching for Pamina.

Papageno finally finds Pamina with Monostatos, an evil man who works for Sarastro, and has a creeper crush on Pamina. When Monostatos sees Papageno, he bolts. Papageno assures Pamina that she is going to be okay. Meanwhile, a priest of the temple chats with Tamino and tells him that Sarastro isn’t really a bad guy, but a noble, wise, trustworthy, sensitive man who most likely enjoys long walks on the beach and candle lit dinners.

As Papageno and Pamina escape, they bump into Monostatos and his men. Papageno begins to play the chimes, and as if by magic, the gang begins to dance in what can only be described as an uncool-in-every-way old people dance boogey down style. This dance ends Act I. What happens next you ask? Keep reading.

ACT II

Act II begins with Tamino and Pamina in the Temple of Ordeals, where their love for each other undergoes a series of tests:

1. Tamino is silenced. He is unable to express his love for Pamina, even when she begs him to speak to her.

2. Pamina is ordered to kill Sarastro with a dagger by the Queen of the Night, (here’s the Don’t Miss This Moment Aria!) but she doesn’t do it. Monostatos attempts to blackmail Pamina by telling her he will tell Sarastro of her intentions if she doesn’t kiss him. However, Sarastro overhears this conversation and forgives Pamina for her mother’s attempt at revenge.

3. Pamina and Tamino have to walk through fire and water. Incidentally Papageno is also tested by what appears to be an ugly old hag who tells Papageno that she is his bride.

It’s really Papagena, Papageno’s perfect match in disguise as a test of his true love. Luckily he accepts her anyway and she turns into a young, beautiful maiden. Papageno’s eyes almost pop out of his skull with delight. Good news for him.

In the final scene, everyone shows great joy because they’ve passed their tests with flying colors. Tamino and Pamina get married, everyone celebrates, and they live happily ever after.

Important to Note:

The finale of The Magic Flute is very uncharacteristic of an opera, since there is almost always a love triangle that results in affairs. These are followed by jealous husbands becoming adulterous murderers, or helpless women killing themselves. The ending of The Magic Flute is filled with happiness, which could be a good reason why its popular--people, especially teenagers, love unrealistically happy endings to everything. 

#opera #art #the magic flute #mozart #yolo #singing #music

[thatoperablog]

Aida

Have you ever been to a party and tried to work in a “walk like an Egyptian” move, inevitably received with blank stares that  involve a of general lack of coordination and sense of anything? Well, Aida is similar to this dance for two reasons. One, because it is tragic to watch, and probably more significant, it takes place in the time of pharaohs, in Egypt. 

"Don't Miss This Moment" Moment:

Act I, Radame’s area “Celeste Aida”, where he sings of his love for Aida and how he will bring her back to her own country one day. I also love Aida’s aria in the last scene, “O terra, adio”, where she says goodbye to the earth. Imagine Rose from Titanic saying “I’ll never let go” to Jack. It’s a real tear-jerker right? Well if you watch Aida, get ready for a waterfall.

Characters:

Amneris- princess of Egypt- she ismore confused about her love for Radames than a moth on a Las Vegas street at midnight.

The King of Egypt- father of Anmeris. as Nicki Minaj would say, he’s a Super Bass. No seriously, he’s a bass.

Amonasro-King of Ethiopia, father of Aida-like Kanye pre-Swift Meltdown-still a jerk.

Aida-Amneris’ slave who was captured by the Egyptians during the war. She is secretly the princess of Ethiopia. She’s like that girl that nobody ever notices until one summer she loses the braces, the bangs, loses a considerable amount of chipmunk cheek fat and grows a foot. Psh. That’s not me at all. (The girl shall remain anonymous)

Radames- a young officer- loves the ladies.

Plot Overview:

ACT I

The King’s Palace in Memphis. There is an intense war going on between the Ethiopians and Egyptians. The handsome Radames hopes to become a general and marry Aida. Awkwardly, Amneris walks in and says something along the lines of “boy I think about you every night and day, I’m addicted wanna jam inside your love”. Even more awkward, Aida walks in whipping her hair back and forth Willow Smith style and says she has a crush on him too (prepare for a catfight with lots of meowing).

Now a bunch of people including the King, announce that the Ethiopians are about to attack! Aida prays that Radames, who is fighting for the Egyptians, will win, but then has an “oh snap” moments and realizes that if he wins then her father, the Ethiopian king, will lose. Next, a bunch of priest dudes dance and everyone prepares for the battle.

ACT II

In scene one, Amneris, being the psycho she is, tricks Aida to find out if Aida loves Radames. So, she lies and tells Aida that Radames is dead. Of course, Aida starts freaking out. The rivalry between them is now official. Amneris then walks out with putting two fingers to her eyes and then to Aida while whispering, “I’m watching you” (well not really but that’s what it looks like).

In the next scene, Radames comes back from the battle victorious. The Egyptians have taken several prisoners including Aida’s father, Amonasro, who is disguising himself as a normal Ethiopian. Suddenly, the king decides that Radames will marry his daughter Amneris. Radames and Aida are like-wow thanks there buddy and Amneris might as well be clapping her hands together like an idiot and giving high-fives to her servants.

ACT III

A hot summer night on the banks of the Nile.

It is the eve of Amneris’ wedding to Radames. Aida and Radames are supposed to have a secret rendez-vous, but before Radames shows up, Amonasro, being the plot-ruiner he is, persuades Aida to get war information out of Radames. All Amonasro needs to know is where the Egyptians have hidden their armies and then he can attack (at this point I want to punch him, you will see why).

So when Radames finally comes,  Amonastro hides behind bushes (can’t imagine my parents doing this) and Aida eventually gets Radames to tell her the classified info. Amonasro pops out of the bushes and tries to jump Radames, when suddenly Amneris and a priest walk out of the temple. Aida and Amonasroro manages to escape but Radames is charged with treason (Having been introduced to opera, I think we all know that it goes downhill from here).

ACT IV

While Radames is in his prison cell, Amneris tells him if he decides to marry her instead of Aida, then she will save him from his doomed fate (I would have taken up that offer any day). Being the Romeo Radames is, he of course refuses to marry Amneris, and is condemned to be buried alive in a crypt (this would only happen in an opera). In scene two, as the priests are closing Radames into the crypt (cue the Jaws music) Radames sees Aida. She has been waiting for him in the crypt for three days (even I don’t love my boyfriend that much). As the lovers sing their farewell, the curtain closes. 

Important to Note:

I guess in the opera world, the ending of Aida could be considered happy. The protagonists don’t die separately, but they die together. A real improvement. On a serious note, if you are in a post-break-up mood, go see Aida instead of watching The Notebook!  As someone important somewhere said, “If you want peace, prepare for war”. Unless of course you’re in an opera, where someone in a ridiculously expensive costume somewhere outlandish would sing, “If you want peace, go see a Broadway musical”

[thatoperablog]

La Boheme

La Boheme, by Giacomo Puccini.

Remember how the ending of The Magic Flute was all happy and every one lived happily after? Well, this “happy ending” bit is about as rare as the steak you buy in the high school cafeteria. 

"Don't Miss This Moment" Moment

For all the single ladies- “Che gelida manna”, where Rodolfo sings to Mimi saying, "your tiny hand is frozen" in an aria sung at the end of Act I when they fall in love.

Characters:

Rodolfo—a poor bohemian poet, could be compared to a modern day hippie from Brooklyn

Mimi- seamstress, “girl next door” type

Marcello-a poor bohemian painter

Schaunard- a poor bohemian musician-hippie musician (John Lennon before the haircut and scandalous music video)

Colline- hippie philosopher 

Musetta- Uses men as pawns; a gold-digger.

Alcindoro- Already from his name you can tell he’s a loser. Who in their right mind would name their child Alcindoro? Sounds like a star wars character. Anyways, he is a rich man who gives Musetta everything and anything she wants.

Rodolfo and Mimi

The Bohemians

Musetta and Alcindoro

Plot Overview

Setting- 1830s Paris

WARNING: Buy Kleenex

ACT I

Imagine Christmas Eve, Paris, the apartment of a bunch of bohemians. Four friends (Rodolfo, Marcello, Schaunard, and Colline) are sitting around a fire chilling, when suddenly this landlord guy comes in demanding them to pay their rent. Being hippies, they drink a couple beers with the landlord guy, get the landlord guy drunk,, and proceed in kicking the landlord guy out into the cold winter streets. Sounds like a typical Friday night.

Next, M, S, and C leave and R is left alone. He hears a knock on the door: it is Mimi. She asks him to relight her candle, which he does, but she then loses her key in the dark apartment. As they search in the darkness he touches her hand and then falls in love with her. To all fellow teenagers: this is unrealistic so don't get your hopes up.

ACT II

At Café Momus, Mimi and Rudolpho, who are madly in love, and the three friends are joined by Musetta and old, rich, Alcindoro, who buys her everything (sugar daddy). The scene is filled with people- children, street sellers, wealthy merchants, etc.

*I was in this scene and had to wear a hot, puffy red dress with six layers and a hat with fruit on it. In this case-not fun being an upper class girl.

 Musetta is bored with him because she is secretly in love with Marcello. As of course every girl would do, she sings an aria to him declaring her love. She then pretends that her toe hurts so that Al will go off and buy her new shoes. Meanwhile, the bohemians and Musetta leave, and Al is stuck with the bill. (haha)

ACT III

 A bitter cold night in February. Outside of Marcello and Musetta’s place, Mimi, who is now sick from the cold, is talking to Marcello about her constant fighting with the jealous Rudolpho.

Soon, Rudolpho appears outside and Mimi hides behind a bush, which is just a tad strange. Rudolpho is being a jerk, and basically tells Marcello, “she’s getting sicker, I think it would be better for us to break up” . However, when he hears Mimi cough he feels bad so he decides to never leave her again (nice save R).

ACT IV

At this point, Mimi is really sick. She is lying in the apartment, dying. Musetta, with a change of heart, sells her earrings for medicine, but it’s too late.

Schaunar examines Mimi and can see she is dead. Everyone knows she is dead except Rudolpho, who only finds out after seeing the expressions on their faces. As he screams “Mimi,Mimi”, he flings his body over the dead girl he loved. This is usually the part where the trombones in the orchestra are replaced by people blowing their noses.

Important to Note:

In reality, opera is like an addition problem:

Girl + lover +problem (usually sickness, death, jealousy, unwanted “touching”= death, sickness, jealousy, unwanted “touching” and general tragedy

Just think of it as being a soap opera on channel 10, except not trashy

You may be thinking to yourself: so why do people go and see these operas? The answer is that opera is like a teenager’s life: dramatic, filled with raging hormones, and epic romance. The music is like nothing you’ve ever experienced, not even Glee, believe me. So goes see La Boheme, an awesome opera!

[thatoperablog]

Turandot

Turandot, by Giacomo Puccini

So basically, Princess Turandot has a grudge against all men because her great-great something or another grandma was harassed by a guy. Harsh? A little. Welcome to opera. 

"Don't Miss This Moment" Moment:

Probably one of the most famous opera areas in the world, “Nessun Dorma” or, “No One Must Sleep”, is sung by Calaf in the third act while the city is busy trying to learn his name. Another one of my favorites is the aria “Tu, che di gel sei cinta”, or “You who are encircled by ice”, sung by Lui to Turandot right before her death. 

Characters:

Turandot- Have you ever heard of someone having a heart of ice? Well you will never meet someone as cold, evil and terrible as Turandot, the ice princess of the legendary city, Pekin...if the middle school geography bee was a dark time in your life as it was for me, I can assure you that Pekin is a city in China.

The Emperor of China- Turandot’s dad, a pushover. So, basically the opposite of my parents and yours.

Calaf- A prince hotter than Channing Tatum (doubt that’s possible)

Timur-exiled king of Tartary (wherever that is)

Liu- a slave girl 

Ping/Pang/Pong (aka the three P’s)- besides being the names of my future children, the funny advisors to the king.

The Entire Cast

Plot Overview

ACT I

The scene opens in the city of Pekin, where Calaf, his father, and Liu are hanging out. Turandot passes by and everyone is put into a trance as she coldly orders the execution of a Persian Prince. Right away, Calaf falls in love with Turandot (most guys don’t fall in love with a girl after she orders someone to be killed).

Not to be ominous or anything but Turandot basically avenges her long dead ancestress by chopping heads off and putting them on poles. Feminism is great but this chick has problems. If a guy wants to marry her and not lose his head (literally) he has to answer three riddles correctly. Calaf decides to go for it.

ACT II

Some stuff with the three P’s happens but I will not bore you with their interesting yet pointless lives. Next, the full court assembles and Calaf is asked the three riddles by Turandot. He answers all three of them correctly, after which the crowd’s face is like OMG and Turandot’s is like !@#$%?&…wtf. However, Calaf tells her that if she can figure out his name by the morning then she won’t have to marry him and he’ll be executed (sounds like a smart guy).

ACT III

Nightime in Pekin. Everyone is trying to figure out this stranger’s name but are unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Calif isn’t freaking out at all and is confident that he will win. Soon, Lui, and Timur are brought in by suspicious guards who think they know the stranger’s name. While Calaf stands there helpless, Lui claims that she is the only one who knows his name, and is tortured by the guards (the best strategy in this situation would have been-deny, deny, deny).

Turandot enters and asks Lui why she is doing this for him. Lui answers, “It is love”. She then takes a dagger from a guard and stabs herself to death (classic opera moment). Calaf takes Turandot in his arms and eventually gives in to his life. The scene is changed to the court where Turandot claims she has learned the stranger’s name: it is, Love. After all, all you need is Love. Beatles---trademark. 

Important to Note:

Puccini died of cancer before he had the chance to finish the opera. The opera was completed by a friend of his, named Franco Alvano. Although he did not live to see his work, it has become famous all around the world- even in Kyrgystan and Tokelau, countries I looked up on google. So go and see Turandot...I know that you are (like myself) P.B.B.M.S.T.s (Procrastinating, Back-talking, occasionally Backstabbing, Morally Skewed Teenagers,) but please go see it… before my 80th birthday preferably.

[thatoperablog]

Carmen

Carmen, by George Bizet

You’ve all probably heard of this opera by George Bizet, or at least hummed the prelude. Rumor has it that a few months after Carmen’s world premiere, Bizet killed himself because the opera was so badly received. Today, it is one of the most celebrated operas ever. Too bad Bizet didn’t live to see its success. 

"Don't Miss This Moment" Moment

The prelude is one of my favorite tunes of all time. Whether or not you are new to the opera world, you have most likely heard it. If not… YOUTUBE!

Habanera- Carmen’s aria in the first act-a teasing, charismatic melody that is taken from an old Spanish song by Iradier, called “El Aveglito”. 

The Toreador song- this melody is played throughout the opera and is very uplifting, with a fast tempo that’s great for singing in the shower. 

Characters:

Carmen- a gypsy. Kind of reminds me of Satine from Moulin Rouge, minus the 80s pop songs

Don Jose- a young corporal-if you are not up to date with military terminology he is below a sergeant but above a private first class. 

Michaela-innocent girl in love with innocent boy who is shoved aside by some sexy, dancing , latina girl who just can’t take her little hands off—woops didn’t mean to get into my life there

Escamillo- a macho bullfighter from Grenada

El Remendado-cool name for a thief

Zuniga-Jose’s captain/boss

Mercedes-reminds me of Mercedes from glee- a carefree gypsy

Frasquita-a gypsy with a spicy name

Setting-1820s, Seville, Spain. (the opera is in Italian but takes place in Spain- confusing for  those of us that tend to have short attention spans).

Carmen in her different costumes

The ever romantic Don Jose

Escamillo the brave bullfighter

Plot Overview

ACT I

The curtain is closed, the orchestra finishes tuning, and one of the most well known beginnings to an opera unfolds. The prelude perfectly describes the scene that is about to be revealed, a bright and sunny day in a small town in Spain. The public square is filled with soldiers under the command of Don Jose, some dudes, and gypsies lighting their cigarettes (classy).

*There are also children and women singing and marching. I was in this particular scene, which included a pregnant donkey that had its baby after the second performance, and a horse who took a “dump” during the premiere in the middle of the stage.

 Michaela appears, looking for Don Jose, with a message from his mother. Don Jose and Michaela are kind of like Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens from High School Musical- the way they act towards each other is as though Disney would sue them for grazing each other’s arm-I mean come on they don’t even kiss until the end of the second movie it’s just so—

Anyways, Carmen arrives and throws a rose at Don Jose’s feet. Carmen puts such a spell over Don Jose that instead of throwing the rose away, he saves her from being arrested after she gets in a cat fight with another gypsy.

ACT II

Carmen and her friends are in the cabaret of Lillas-Pastia, when she sees the sexy Escamillo and begins to “like like” him (cue the foreshadowing). Escamillo leaves, but Carmen and the gypsies, who are smugglers, wait for Don Jose. Suddenly, Don Jose appears and Carmen persuades him to join the gypsy band. He accepts; what a shocker.

ACT III

Creepy setting-rocky mountains with sketchy fog..

Carmen and Don Jose are in the mountains with the smugglers. Carmen is beginning to grow bored with Don Jose, while he is still totally in love with her ...sound familiar boys?

Unfortunately, Escamillo soon arrives and the jealous Don Jose rushes at him, ready to get down and dirty. The smugglers separate them and Escamillo proceeds to invite them to his bullfight in Seville. Out of nowhere, Michaela appears and begs Don Jose to come with her to visit his mother, who is dying. Don Jose agrees and they skidaddle. 

ACT IV

Ding ding. The bullfight has begun. Carmen is with Escamillo. She is about to enter the arena with Escamillo when Don Jose randomly pops in and tries to win her back (aww). Carmen covers her eyes and sings “la la la”, and so ast he hurls the ring he has given her at his feet. In the distance, the cheers of people are heard as the victory of Escamillo is announced. Carmen cries out with joy. Done Jose springs at Carmen and stabs her just as Escamillo leaves the arena. I’ve seen this at the Colosseum in Italy and at the Met- I cry every time.

Important to Note:

Legend has it that Bizet hung himself three months after the premiere of his opera Carmen because it was such a failure. Now, it is one of the most well known operas in the world, with its classic girl and boy fall in love-another girl puts boy under spell-they fall in love-girl gets bored/breaks his heart-boy stabs girl plot..just kidding that would be weird. But everybody has seen it. The question is…have you? 

[thatoperablog]

Hey how old were you when you began your training?

Hey I was about seven years old when I started singing at the Met

[thatoperablog]

#opera #singing #art #music #society #what i think i do #expression

[thatoperablog]

Classical Music Can Be Cool

#classical music #opera #mozart #music #art #teenagers #memes

[thatoperablog]

The Metropolitan Opera =)

That's me all the way on the right in the red dress, singing in the MET's production of La Boheme

I'm the third from the left; they had to give me a boy's haircut so I could sing in this world premiere of An American Tragedy at the MET

#opera #la boheme #metropolitan opera #puccini #childhood

[thatoperablog]

This blog is amazing... If you don't mind how old are you? I'm 16 and have been classically singing for a year and a few months... What's it like to sing at the met? T-T it's my dream to sing at the met... Haha I'm fangirling rapidly rigt now.. Because this blog is amazing.. -I can't say that enough-...

Hey! I'm 17 and I can't even describe what it's like to sing at the MET..it's magical and unreal and amazing! thanks so much it's nice to know that there are people below the age of 65 who love opera as much as I do =)

[thatoperablog]

Reasons to Listen to Classical Music

#classical music #opera #memes #art #mozart #amadeus

[thatoperablog]

Art, Expression, and Artistic Expression

People's reaction to opera the first time they hear it is extreme, they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they don't, they may learn to love it, but it will never become part of their soul.

-Richard Gere, Pretty Woman

#opera #art #artistic expression #expression #hipster

[thatoperablog]

I worked at the Santa Fe Opera last summer!

wow that's amazing! One of the most fun things to do is to work at an opera house :D

[thatoperablog]

You sang at the MET and other Opera Houses? :) Have you met famous people there?

Yes! I sang at the Metropolitan Opera for a long time and in other theaters as well..once I sang happy birthday to Placido Domingo in his dressing room and also for Nathan Gunn when he was shirtless :p Also had the privilege of working with Renee Fleming, Anna Netrebko and others:)

[thatoperablog]

Hello, I really appreciate your recent contribution to the Opera community on tumblr. We are a small few people who truly love opera and want to be a part of it for the rest of our lives!There is actually quite a few of us, more than you'd probably think! So welcome to the tumblr opera community, feel free too take a look at my blog, specifically my opera blog, which can be found on my page. :)

Thank you! Your blog is great I'll be sure to keep reading it :D

[thatoperablog]

Pavarotti. Perfection.

[thatoperablog]

Carmen Act 1-The Habanera sung by Carmen