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!!
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