One night at the Opera...

I promised KT a blog-worthy evening - and I think I succeeded! But - before I get too far ahead of myself, let's get us all on the same page...

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a fundraiser with my new Winnipeg friend AA. There was a silent auction and a live auction at the event, and a couple of silent auction items caught my eye. All of which, are items on my "Winter list": indoor, fun stuff to do this winter. Tickets to a hockey game, tickets to the theatre, and tickets to the Opera! So, I bid on each of these items, but only continued to bid on the Opera. And I "won"! The Opera tickets also come along with a night's stay at a really old (turn of century old) hotel downtown. So, I got a pretty good deal on the package.

I had invited a colleague at work to come along - she and I both have music backgrounds and we keep meaning to spend more time together - but she was unable to join me. I checked in with KT - and she was all for it! So, we made our plan and looked forward to our night at the opera!

However, there was some dramatic tension brewing... I'd made the arrangements for the tickets... but they being mailed to me... and I hadn't received them yet... It was with great anticipation that I checked my mailbox when I arrived home from work this evening (remind me to post about how freaking cold it is here!!!) - and found NOTHING! I had already sent a "just in case I don't get my tickets" email to the woman I arranged them through - but I didn't hear anything back! And then I called her at home... but she was going to be out all evening... I was hoping that meant she'd be at the Opera... Called those phone numbers... nothing. (She's going to get like 6 different messages from me tomorrow...)

KT arrived and I told her about the drama on the way... I figured we may as well go and see what happens.

The story within the story... more than 3 years ago in London, I bought a dress. A pretty, lacey dress that caught my eye (I believe I was shopping with LYo at Lolita that day). I could almost get it done up... but bought it anyway because it was so pretty and one-of-a-kind. Over the years, I haven't had a suitable occasion - that also matched with when the dress fit me... Until today... (dun, dun, dun...)

So, KT and I are in the front of the theatre in the line for the box office, when I notice a group of what looks like Opera employees. So, with little push from KT, I go over and ask if the woman I was dealing with was there...and was promptly introduced to her. I told her the situation, and in two seconds she remedied it for me! She gave me two tickets off this table that were saved for someone else - according to our ticket stubs... Steve Ashton... We quickly took our seats - which were well located in the Orchestra level just past 1/2 way back. (When my original tickets finally arrive, I'll have to check to see if I ended up with better tickets tonight...)



The Opera we were going to see: Tosca by G. Puccini. I had done my research so I could get acquainted with the plot, and be able to sum it up for KT in less than 2 mins (she already told me she wouldn't have time to do the background research). So, for those of you unfamiliar with the story: Italy, 1800 - Napoleon is trying to take it over, there's political unrest. This guy (part of the political unrest) is taking fugitive in a church, where the lead guy - Mario Cavaradossi - is painting a portrait of Mary Magdalene (based on the likeness of the fugitive's sister... it's a small world). So, Mario helps the guy out and takes him to his villa, keeping this all a secret from his lover, Floria Tosca, because she can't keep a secret. The Chief of Police, Scarpia, suspects that Mario is hiding the fugitive and decides to make Tosca jealous so she'll lead his spies right to Mario... which she does...and learns about the fugitive. Mario is taken into custody, fugitive is missing. Scarpia, who is a really bad guy, first tortures Mario for info, with Tosca being in earshot of Mario's painful cries, and tells Tosca to reveal the location of the fugitive...which she does... And then Scarpia tells Tosca that if she'll have to have sex with him (I believe it was phrased - give her lust to him), he'll let them go both go free. He threatens her and tells her to agree...which she does... He tells her that to protect his reputation he'll have to stage a mock execution, but once the guards are convinced he's dead, they can leave together. Tosca, being a smart cookie, asks for her freedom in writing. As Scarpia's writing this up, she finds a knife... He comes over to her and starts making advances - and she stabs him. He dies. Then, she goes to Mario in jail... tells him he's got to be convincing so they can be together... but Scarpia had told his men to go through with the real execution, not the fake one... And when Tosca sees that her lover is dead...and knows that she's soon to be arrested for killing the chief of police...she plunges off the building to her death. The end.

The sets were fabulous! And the singers were all very good! We really enjoyed Tosca and Mario. Didn't really enjoy the Chief of Police... his voice wasn't as bright as Mario's.



It made me want to go home and sing opera... but that's the thing - how do you just start singing along to opera?? It's so much easier to pick up musicals... So, I'm going to add "sing more opera" to my "Winter List".

Centennial Concert Hall - the venue for tonight's performance - was really big. It has a really great and interesting lobby! I loved that the centre was open, and that the areas for you to walk and mingle alternated on each floor - close to the theatre...close to the street... And - it featured some GREAT chandeliers!



All in all - great night was had by all - except for maybe Steve Ashton... This was an excellent kick-off of my "winter list!" Thanks for being such a great opera date KT!!

Cold cold snow

This morning I woke to LOTS of softly falling snow. It's steady, gentle and slow. Quite pretty. And every now and then the wind blows and it's CRAZY white!



It made me think of my younger brother's song "Cold Cold Snow" that he wrote several years ago. It's a favourite winter song of mine. There are some great lyrics in there...

Gently falling
Oh you're calling
Me to come and play
How can I say no to that snow
And ivory world that waits

Green, you can bury the (distracting) green
I don't need it
You can blanket it beneath you

Cold cold snowing
Better when you're blowing
I love you more than the rain
Drowned this place in cold embraces
I have no need for roads

~ PMBT

I've listened to it on repeat this morning more than ten times already...

Here are some shots of the snow so far... It started snowing Thursday, late afternoon, and it snowed constantly until late Friday afternoon! Quite the first snowfall! Yesterday, I don't think there was any snow that fell - it was sunny in the morning and then cloudy for the rest of the day. It was a great chance for everyone to get caught up on clearing their snow... or hopefully they did before waking up to more this morning! The superintendent of the building across the street has already cleared his walkways before 9 am. Shame that he'll have to do it again by noon... Oh winter, you think you're so funny...

This first shot is from my walk to work Friday morning - I took it with my mittens on!


And here's an artistic shot that I did mostly with my dad in mind... My camera had difficulty focusing in on the snow while seeing the Legislature in the back...but it still looks neat. I think.

Remembrance Day

Today is one of the most important days of the year to me.

Both of my parents are Dutch, and all of my ancestors are Dutch. So, the involvement of the Canadian Armed Forces in liberating the Netherlands in World War II is something for which my ENTIRE family is very thankful. Where would I be today...if they hadn't succeeded? Where would any of us be?

Today recognizes that one act and all of our acts towards peace - and the sacrifices made getting there.

When I was in London, I went every year to the cenotaph at the corner of Victoria Park. The first year I went, I was brought there by my aunt and uncle. It was great to share that with them. And, it was really great to tell them how much I value and honour Remembrance Day each year, when they had assumed I wouldn't have noticed or cared since I'm of a totally different era and I don't have the same memories or know all the stories that they do of those around them - parents, aunts, uncles, friends. It felt good to let them know the respect for Canadian Armed Forces has been passed down.

Last year, I got to share the ceremony with my sister. That was really sweet too. She has always had this fascination for World War II Jewish internment stories - it started with Anne Frank in high school, and she still has a keen interest when it comes to books or movies on the topic. So, it has an extra layer of interest for her - to remember all these people she has read about, mixed with our family connection.

This year, I did my research, asked some people for their favourite service and I planned on attending the "Winnipeg" service at the Convention Centre (there were several across the city for different troops, wars, etc). However, at the last minute I decided to attend the outdoor ceremony at the Legislature. This had been listed as a gun salute ceremony. And just in case you're planning on attending in the future - it really is *just* a gun salute.

I'm not going to lie, I was disappointed. I like the pomp and circumstance: the prayers, the songs, the veterans, the laying of wreaths... This was an "experience" though. And one that will stay with me.

They had three stationary, large shell guns lined up on the East side of the Legislature (between the Golden Boy and work, but not directed at work...). And, after walking around issuing several warnings about how loud it would be, they fired the first gun.

The gust of air from the firing moved my pants. The sound was HUGE. And it shook all of us. Everyone moved. Even those operating the machinery.

It was incredible to stand about 8 feet back from this gun and feel such a strong effect - and then to imagine it being amplified by several guns going off at the same time, or right after each other - and with the added fear of retaliation/attack. You can't read that sound in a book. You can't even imagine that sound in a conversation. You could see it in a movie - but it's not going to make your pants move.





After the guns had been fired 21 times, it was over. There hadn't been an announcement for silence at the start, nor was there a prayer or a moment of thanksgiving at the end. Just guns.

I took my time afterwards walking around a World War I monument that I see every morning, and then walking down Memorial Ave to stop and say thank you at each of the statues that have been erected - for the women, for the pilots and flight staff, for the peacekeepers, for World War II and Korea.





It was cold, and my feet were freezing, but the choice was mine.

Thank you for the freedom.

And thank you Manitoba for keeping Remembrance Day a holiday. I spent it wisely.