Met Opera: Romeo et Juliette
I decided to see this due to a why not attitude, and I am actually really glad that I went to see it. I think one of the problems with opera is that it always seems so long, but I actually did not feel that this is the case. It is still a different type of experience with musical, but I still find myself really enjoying it.
I think the MET is definitely really changing my view towards opera, as I am really looking forward to watch another one. If I ever get to New York, I would love to buy a ticket and see it live (although given the price, I probably can only afford a really cheap one that is at the very back. More for the sake of saying that I have been to one).
In regard to the opera, Juliet is played by Diana Damrau. Diana Damrau is actually really famous for singing the Queen of Night aria. She actually is in her 40s, but she actually acted out the role of Juliet really well. As she glided and danced on the stage, you really feel that she is a younger girl, even as you know that she is not a young girl at the same time.
I also have to mention that I really like the actor who played Mercutio: Elliot Madore. He is fairly young, and I personally find him very good looking. But his Mercutio is that of a very loveable scoundrel. Even though he is constantly teasing his friend and enjoying himself perhaps at the expense of the others with jokes, he is very loyal if he felt his friend is being insulted. During the scene when Tybalt insults Romeo, you can tell that he is genuinely upset. Mercutio also does quite a bit of swordfight, first when he helps the page and I think the idea is that he is very skilled, as he could actually parry the other guard by a broom. Likewise, when he gets serious and fight Tybalt, he seems the one that has the upper hand (so I can see why he would blame Romeo for interfering). On the other hand, he is definitely the type of guy who would throw a fistful of sand in your eyes.
One thing that really surprised me is the end, when Juliet wakes up after Romeo drank poison. The two of them then begin to sing and I was actually starting to think that maybe this version is going to be a happy version, because Romeo seems to be fine, the poison does not seem to have any effect.
However, he then collapsed. The opera will just end with the two of them dying, which was another surprise, as I thought that there would be a moment when the rest of the cast come out, the bit in the end of the play where the two patriarchs say that they would finally be at peace.
Paris did not seem to have much of a role in this opera (which seems quite similar to what happened in the play). I am pretty sure that he appeared in the party and asked who Juliet was, and then appeared in the wedding that never happened due to Juliet having drunk the poison. I think the guy probably just sang a few lines. Also, in the play, he will go to Juliet’s grave and Romeo would actually kill him, but this is something that just never happened.
I think the MET is definitely really changing my view towards opera, as I am really looking forward to watch another one. If I ever get to New York, I would love to buy a ticket and see it live (although given the price, I probably can only afford a really cheap one that is at the very back. More for the sake of saying that I have been to one).
In regard to the opera, Juliet is played by Diana Damrau. Diana Damrau is actually really famous for singing the Queen of Night aria. She actually is in her 40s, but she actually acted out the role of Juliet really well. As she glided and danced on the stage, you really feel that she is a younger girl, even as you know that she is not a young girl at the same time.
I also have to mention that I really like the actor who played Mercutio: Elliot Madore. He is fairly young, and I personally find him very good looking. But his Mercutio is that of a very loveable scoundrel. Even though he is constantly teasing his friend and enjoying himself perhaps at the expense of the others with jokes, he is very loyal if he felt his friend is being insulted. During the scene when Tybalt insults Romeo, you can tell that he is genuinely upset. Mercutio also does quite a bit of swordfight, first when he helps the page and I think the idea is that he is very skilled, as he could actually parry the other guard by a broom. Likewise, when he gets serious and fight Tybalt, he seems the one that has the upper hand (so I can see why he would blame Romeo for interfering). On the other hand, he is definitely the type of guy who would throw a fistful of sand in your eyes.
One thing that really surprised me is the end, when Juliet wakes up after Romeo drank poison. The two of them then begin to sing and I was actually starting to think that maybe this version is going to be a happy version, because Romeo seems to be fine, the poison does not seem to have any effect.
However, he then collapsed. The opera will just end with the two of them dying, which was another surprise, as I thought that there would be a moment when the rest of the cast come out, the bit in the end of the play where the two patriarchs say that they would finally be at peace.
Paris did not seem to have much of a role in this opera (which seems quite similar to what happened in the play). I am pretty sure that he appeared in the party and asked who Juliet was, and then appeared in the wedding that never happened due to Juliet having drunk the poison. I think the guy probably just sang a few lines. Also, in the play, he will go to Juliet’s grave and Romeo would actually kill him, but this is something that just never happened.