It's official. I am on crack!
After saying I wouldn't go, I ended up going to see Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg after all. And what's more, I enjoyed it! All six hours of it! ;P
I changed my mind for several reasons: 1) I didn't see a single opera in February and was going through withdrawal, 2) it's Wagner's only comedy, 3) it's the longest opera still commonly performed, and 4) I figured if I was going to sit through six hours of opera, I'd better do it at the Met where I was sure the sets would visually amaze. My two favorite sets had to be the second act and second part of the third act. For the second act, they built a street of a German village. The cutest little houses lined the street that tapered off into the distance. In the third act, for the meadow scene they had a covered bridge and everything. I really wish I had pictures because my descriptions can't do the sets justice. I was also impressed by the performers. Some of them were pretty much singing the entire time. Can you imagine the strain on their vocal boxes? I am in awe, so I'm glad I went after all.
Honestly, I wasn't positive I'd last the entire performance. I was sure I'd give up halfway through. But once I was at the opera, it became a challenge for myself to see how long I could last. The performers and musiciams made it an easy challenge though because it was just beautiful. After a while, I wanted to stay not because I wanted to see if I could, but because I wanted to see what happened next (in spite of having read the notes beforehand) and what the sets would look like (it's all about the sets, heh).
It also helped that I kind of half-dozed for a little bit during the first act. Getting that cat nap in reenergized me for the remaining five hours. I blame it on Mr. Head Sway that sat in front me though. While I appreciate that he was into the music, and I fully agree that it was at times very beautiful and moving, moving your head around as he was doing made it very difficult for me to see. I gave up trying to counter his head movements, which was also making me a tad dizzy, and closed my eyes and lost myself in the music. But I think I lost myself a little too well though because while I know I was listening to the music, when I opened my eyes again I was momentarily disoriented. Oops. But I gave the opera my full attention after that. It helped that Mr. Head Sway wasn't swaying his head as prevantly by the second and third acts.
But Mr. Head Sway had other problems. He was also Mr. Smelly. I started noticing a whiff of a sour smell every now and then towards the end of the first act. It was like body odor gone bad. I couldn't figure out for the life of me where it was coming from - in front, in back, next to me? I even wondered if it was myself! Imagine me discreetly smelling myself in the darkness. But, right before the third act I leaned forward to put something away in my bag, and OOF. I got a good whiff of Mr. Head Sway and wow. I won't describe what it smelled like because it's pretty gross, but yeah. I don't know how his friend managed to sit next to him for SIX HOURS. Because I would've died. Just ew.
Anyhow, I should go to bed. I've got more entertainment planned for tomorrow night. ;)
P.S. spotzle & mariavii, I was totally thinking about you guys when I kept running into this woman dressed head-to-toe in black. Sleek boots that I know Maria would have approved. And leather pants and a fur vest. :P
Edit: If you follow the link to the opera, you'll see a smallish pic of the second act I was talking about (the German village street scene).
I changed my mind for several reasons: 1) I didn't see a single opera in February and was going through withdrawal, 2) it's Wagner's only comedy, 3) it's the longest opera still commonly performed, and 4) I figured if I was going to sit through six hours of opera, I'd better do it at the Met where I was sure the sets would visually amaze. My two favorite sets had to be the second act and second part of the third act. For the second act, they built a street of a German village. The cutest little houses lined the street that tapered off into the distance. In the third act, for the meadow scene they had a covered bridge and everything. I really wish I had pictures because my descriptions can't do the sets justice. I was also impressed by the performers. Some of them were pretty much singing the entire time. Can you imagine the strain on their vocal boxes? I am in awe, so I'm glad I went after all.
Honestly, I wasn't positive I'd last the entire performance. I was sure I'd give up halfway through. But once I was at the opera, it became a challenge for myself to see how long I could last. The performers and musiciams made it an easy challenge though because it was just beautiful. After a while, I wanted to stay not because I wanted to see if I could, but because I wanted to see what happened next (in spite of having read the notes beforehand) and what the sets would look like (it's all about the sets, heh).
It also helped that I kind of half-dozed for a little bit during the first act. Getting that cat nap in reenergized me for the remaining five hours. I blame it on Mr. Head Sway that sat in front me though. While I appreciate that he was into the music, and I fully agree that it was at times very beautiful and moving, moving your head around as he was doing made it very difficult for me to see. I gave up trying to counter his head movements, which was also making me a tad dizzy, and closed my eyes and lost myself in the music. But I think I lost myself a little too well though because while I know I was listening to the music, when I opened my eyes again I was momentarily disoriented. Oops. But I gave the opera my full attention after that. It helped that Mr. Head Sway wasn't swaying his head as prevantly by the second and third acts.
But Mr. Head Sway had other problems. He was also Mr. Smelly. I started noticing a whiff of a sour smell every now and then towards the end of the first act. It was like body odor gone bad. I couldn't figure out for the life of me where it was coming from - in front, in back, next to me? I even wondered if it was myself! Imagine me discreetly smelling myself in the darkness. But, right before the third act I leaned forward to put something away in my bag, and OOF. I got a good whiff of Mr. Head Sway and wow. I won't describe what it smelled like because it's pretty gross, but yeah. I don't know how his friend managed to sit next to him for SIX HOURS. Because I would've died. Just ew.
Anyhow, I should go to bed. I've got more entertainment planned for tomorrow night. ;)
P.S. spotzle & mariavii, I was totally thinking about you guys when I kept running into this woman dressed head-to-toe in black. Sleek boots that I know Maria would have approved. And leather pants and a fur vest. :P
Edit: If you follow the link to the opera, you'll see a smallish pic of the second act I was talking about (the German village street scene).