See a star being born

[Sue U]

Nadine Sierra is only 27 years old and has it all, including debuts this year at the Paris Opera (where's she's currently appearing in Don Giovanni), the Met, la Scala and Berlin Staatsoper. Jim, I highly recommend you and Kelly take the kids to see her in Magic Flute at SFO in November, where she is sure to be the most stunning Pamina in the company's history. This young woman is just reaching international stardom, and 2015-16 is going to be a huge year for her.

Look!



Here she is winning 1st Prize in the 2013 Neue Stimmen competition in Germany, with a favorite aria from Capulets and Montagues (Juliet's balcony/bedroom scene):



Gorgeous!

[Guinevere]

OOOh, I need to see her. I even had a 20% off offer for Opera de Paris and Don Giovanni! They are staging it at the Opera Bastille, the new modern building where I was in May. It's a great venue!

Performances through mid October!

[Joe Guy]

I was very concerned for the first minute or so in that second video. She looked really upset as though she had forgotten the words to the song.

Nice recovery though...

[Lord Jim]

Jim, I highly recommend you and Kelly take the kids to see her in Magic Flute at SFO in November

I have to say that my first reaction when I read that was, "what the hell are they doing performing an opera at the airport?"

I just checked it out, there are lots of performances and seats available. (And it's going to be in English which is a big plus for me when it comes to opera )

My mother-in-law is a huge opera fan, so I know she'd want to come. It looks like it could be fun.

[Sue U]

I may try to get tickets to see her at the Met in December, when she takes over as Gilda in Rigoletto -- which in this production is apparently set in a 1960s Las Vegas casino. Looks wacky!

[Sue U]

I just checked it out, there are lots of performances and seats available. (And it's going to be in English which is a big plus for me when it comes to opera )

No matter what the language, Magic Flute is completely incomprehensible. But the music is glorious, and includes probably the most beautiful sixty seconds of music ever written.

[Lord Jim]

The War Memorial Opera House is also an elegant and well designed venue in which to enjoy a performance:

[Guinevere]

My very favorite (referring to the Opera). SF Opera house is lovely, but I haven't been (yet).

Jim, its such a magical story (and not entirely incomprehensible - because, magic). I first saw it at about 14, so I bet Tati would love it and Jimmy too.

[Lord Jim]

I'm sure Tati would enjoy it, and it's just about the only opera I would consider taking the lad to. A fantasy story with lots of colorful costumes and scenery, and a lot of activity to hold his interest. (Three hours is a long sit for him, even with one short intermission. He's been fine the past couple of years when we've taken him to see A Christmas Carol, but that's not as long)

[MajGenl.Meade]

Meade goes to the opera

[Lord Jim]

In general I'm not a big fan either Meade...

Sitting for three hours through some sappy, slow moving, melodramatic love story being performed in a language I can't even understand ain't exactly my idea of a rollicking good time...

But The Magic Flute is different from your standard classic opera...

[Big RR]

I agree Jim, the Magic Flute is a good opera. especuially for those who don't really care for opera. If you want to see an interesting production on film, Ingmar Bergman filmed a performance in Stockholm (I think) and the sets and atmosphere are exquisite.

Sue, let me know what you think of the Rigoletto performance; while I'd love to see her I did not like the opera set in a Las Vegas casino; while I think we can all appreciate while a king or duke might tolerate a fool, I just don't think a mafia don would.

[Sue U]

Sitting for three hours through some sappy, slow moving, melodramatic love story being performed in a language I can't even understand ain't exactly my idea of a rollicking good time...

Ahem ....

Rollicking good times:

1) Cosi fan Tutti, 2) Abduction from the Seraglio 3) Marriage of Figaro

... and that's just Mozart.

see also Daughter of the Regiment, Elixir of Love, Barber of Seville, Gianni Schicchi, etc.

Sex, treachery and murder:

1) Carmen, 2) Pagliacci, 3) MacBeth, 4) Medea, 5) Butterfly

That should be enough to get you started.

[Big RR]

Others that are pretty good for first exposures--Aida and Turandot (which has one of the great Tenor arias with Nessun Dorma), and my younger daughter's favorite, La Traviata (upon which Rent was loosely based).

I am also a fan of Wagner, and to me nothing beats Tristan und Isolde, but the Ring Cycle is also great (but be forewarned, Wagner operas are usually very long--last time I saw Gotterdammmerung, it was over 6 hours with the intermissions).

And Jim, yes, they are in foreign languages, but most opera houses have simultaneous translations, and if you get tired of reading, you can just sit back and watch the drama unfold without having to know all the words.

[Guinevere]

La Boheme! Which is the opera Rent is based on (shouted out in the repeating theme song - La Vie Boheme).

But I agree, you don't need the language to understand the story.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Meade ready for transportation to the entertainment

[Long Run]

Three hours is a long sit for him, even with one short intermission.

The flute of champagne can work magic for an adult to get through the event, but that is off limits for the poor guy.

[Lord Jim]

And he wont be able to order a drink at the bar during intermission...

[Lord Jim]

Sitting for three hours through some sappy, slow moving, melodramatic love story being performed in a language I can't even understand ain't exactly my idea of a rollicking good time...

Ahem ....

Rollicking good times:

1) Cosi fan Tutti, 2) Abduction from the Seraglio 3) Marriage of Figaro

... and that's just Mozart.

see also Daughter of the Regiment, Elixir of Love, Barber of Seville, Gianni Schicchi, etc.

Sex, treachery and murder:

1) Carmen, 2) Pagliacci, 3) MacBeth, 4) Medea, 5) Butterfly

That should be enough to get you started.

Yeah, I think most of those would be improved with some car chases, shoot outs, and a couple of explosions...

(And of course, some girls walking by in Bikinis...)

[Econoline]

I'm with you, Jim. Magic Flute for opera, Nutcracker for ballet, and that's about it.