The Marraige of Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro is one of those operas that you don't know you know, and that's one of the many things that makes Mozart so satisfying. His music permeates our lives, one of the tried and true soundtracks that's endured over two hundred years and never lost its relevance. Taste varies from person to person, but I find such comfort and beauty in all of of Mozart''s works; the delicacy of his flutes, the lightness of his strings that just add to this effect of movement - Mozart always moves so prettily. It was wonderful to take a break from the day to day slog last night and settle into the creation of a man I never met, but feel I know so well through his music.
The Overture just pulls you straight in as one of the most irresistable on the planet:
Last night, I had the pleasure of watching two strong male leads in Figaro (a bass played by Ildar Abdrazakov) and the Count (played by baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes). The almost acrobatic technique of the roles seemed to get away from them in a couple of places (Figaro in particular), resulting in an obvious mismatch between the singer and the orchestra, but not often enough to jar my enjoyment. The women were solid, though nothing extraordinary. Susanna (Veronica Cangemi) had a very light and pretty voice. They still delivered one of my favorite duets in opera very nicely.
(This is my girl, Renee Fleming of the golden voice, and Cecila Bartoli singing. (ignore the subtitles, just close your eyes and listen):
And, just because I can't ever resist this pretty little aria, sung by Cherubino (a trouser role -a male character written to be sung by a woman), his love song to the Countess:
*sighs happily*
In other news, and of my own artistic development, I have been dancing really well lately. It's like a switch was flipped and everything is coming so easily, the movements so rote that I don't have to concentrate on them. I'm not sure why this has happened, I'm just glad that it has. My teacher hugged me the other day and told me that she was proud of me. That never gets old, no matter how old you are.:)
The Overture just pulls you straight in as one of the most irresistable on the planet:
Click to viewLast night, I had the pleasure of watching two strong male leads in Figaro (a bass played by Ildar Abdrazakov) and the Count (played by baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes). The almost acrobatic technique of the roles seemed to get away from them in a couple of places (Figaro in particular), resulting in an obvious mismatch between the singer and the orchestra, but not often enough to jar my enjoyment. The women were solid, though nothing extraordinary. Susanna (Veronica Cangemi) had a very light and pretty voice. They still delivered one of my favorite duets in opera very nicely.
(This is my girl, Renee Fleming of the golden voice, and Cecila Bartoli singing. (ignore the subtitles, just close your eyes and listen):
And, just because I can't ever resist this pretty little aria, sung by Cherubino (a trouser role -a male character written to be sung by a woman), his love song to the Countess:
*sighs happily*
In other news, and of my own artistic development, I have been dancing really well lately. It's like a switch was flipped and everything is coming so easily, the movements so rote that I don't have to concentrate on them. I'm not sure why this has happened, I'm just glad that it has. My teacher hugged me the other day and told me that she was proud of me. That never gets old, no matter how old you are.:)