The Abduction from the Seraglio (OTA)

[spookinasuit]

It is here: Opening night for my first official production as director of the opera: Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio. The fact that it's my second production already doesn't make any me less nervous, though I know we've put together a good show.

I'm very happy with young Paris' (parisprincetroy) performance as Belmonte and Faramir (faramir_hurin) is a fine Bassa

Comments

Any time during/after show

[faramir_hurin]

I'm very nervous, even if my role is not a singing one. There are a few who find that strange, myself included. My voice is just not right for any of these roles and I'm sure I'd be even more worried if I had to sing. As it is, my costume is very fancy and not at all like court wear. Well, it's robes. Even stranger, I'm playing a villain. He does right at the end, but it's a new thing for me. At least I know that Glaurnaneth won't think I look like a fool.

***

I didn't make any terrible mistakes and I think I even had fun in there, once I got over the nerves. Now I should try to eat something.

Reception

[glaurnaneth]

The Dragon, though confused by the language (why can't all humans just talk the same? she wondered), nevertheless reads the acted gestures and expressions well enough to get the basic gist of the performance.

The moment Faramir emerges into the party, Glaurnaneth makes her way to his side. "That was wonderful, Minmir..."

Re: Reception

[faramir_hurin]

"Thank you. I enjoyed doing it, once I was over being nervous."

I have to ask.

"Did I make a good bad man?" I tried very hard to be as wicked as I could.

Re: Reception

[glaurnaneth]

"No," she says honestly. "You let them go."

Re: Reception

[faramir_hurin]

I have to laugh at that.

"Well, before that I wasn't a good man." I did my best.

"Did you enjoy it? The language is very strange, and that's with me having heard it all any number of times." I can pick out a few words, but German would be difficult to learn, I think.

Re: Reception

[glaurnaneth]

Glaurnaneth shrugs slightly. "You were a man facing a thing you wanted and could take. Unlike true bad men, when you saw pain being felt by others for your selfishness, you corrected it as best you could."

A cycle she saw over and over on Earth.

Re: Reception

[faramir_hurin]

"I suppose that part suits me better than I thought, then." I hadn't considered it that way. Glaurnaneth thinks so differently from other people and she helps me see things in new ways.

"I enjoy doing these things." I remember back to the first play I was in here.

"You should have seen when we did "Into the Woods". Duchess Polgara was one of the main characters and she was provoked by a man and turned him into a turnip." I manage to look a bit embarrassed, since he was my brother in the show. "She turned him back."

Re: Reception

[glaurnaneth]

The Dragon laughs merrily. "I remember her saying she wished she was allowed to do it for real. Or had she said she did it for real once? I do not recall..."

Re: Reception

[faramir_hurin]

"She did it, and I was right there." I frown. "Camulus was very inappropriate."

He deserved reprimand, although I don't know if he deserved anything that harsh. It's what happened, though.

"Intelligent people would not cross her. Decent people would not, either."

Re: Reception

[glaurnaneth]

"No, one would not," she agrees. Though on their first meeting the two could have gotten dangerously close to fighting, had Glaurnaneth been even slightly other than she is.

"I could not understand a word, but you and the others on stage made the emotions clear enough with your faces and gestures," she finally answers his earlier question.

Re: Reception

[faramir_hurin]

"I think most of the audience couldn't understand the words. The acting tells the story as much as the singing. Or speaking, in my case."

My role did not involve singing. I don't think I could be quite as skilled as required for this. Speaking the lines in German was hard enough--singing them could have been awkward. Then again, I can sing in Sindarin and Quenya.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I know you'd watch anyway, but it's better if it entertains you at least somewhat."

Re: Reception

[glaurnaneth]

"Turn the tale around and you could be telling the tales of my sons and their fathers... before our son."

Re: Reception

[faramir_hurin]

"Would you really wish to tell that story? It would be very sad." She must be very strong to have lost so many sons yet still have hope.

"I am so proud of Glaurmir. I barely know him, in truth, but what you tell makes me proud." I smile at her. "You are a very good mother."

Re: Reception

[glaurnaneth]

The Dragon shakes her head. "I do not wish to tell it. Nor do I think men would wish to hear it." She tilts her head. "How do you do it? How do you become that other man?"

Re: Reception

[faramir_hurin]

"How do I become which other man? My character in the opera?"

Re: Reception

[glaurnaneth]

Glaurnaneth nods. "Yes, that." The concept of pretending well enough to "act" being difficult for her.