Our local university is known for it’s historical music program, and they put on a production of the opera Alcina by Handel. It was sublime, and a treat to see a baroque opera performed in a smaller theater.
Do you ever go to see live theater? What was the last thing that you went to? Or, alternatively, what was your favorite?
The last opera I saw was Fellow Travelers by Spears, an 2016 opera based on a novel of the same title about two men who fall in love during the Lavender Scare. It was absolutely heart-rending, just the most tragic love story you could possibly imagine, and the sex scenes were so hot — I don’t think I’d ever seen a fully nude scene at an opera before, even if it was just from behind, and the tenor clearly had spent some time in the gym to prepare. Highly recommend you go see it if you have a chance.
Ah, a fellow Seattleite. Saw that opening night and was blown away. Usually not a fan of modern operas, but those Gregs knew what they were doing.
I wish they’d go back to four full productions each season. The concert as the fourth performance is just not the same.
Agreed! We tried it out this season and it just wasn’t the same. Gonna be renewing just for the full operas this year.
I’ve never heard of this one before; it must be so hard to get a new opera out there! I’m glad people are doing it though. Every production seems like a minor miracle of logistics and ambition.
I see it’s based on a book, I might have to give that a read.
My local opera company does one new opera and two traditional operas every season, so I’ve seen quite a few over the years. The wildest one was definitely The ®evolution of Steve Jobs, a 2017 opera by Bates about the Apple founder.
I kind of want to hate watch that Jobs one!
I appreciate that they’re doing new stuff though! I love historical performance, but I absolutely understand that is a niche interest. If opera is going to survive as an art form (and I think it should), it needs to be a living medium.
The university is putting an a brand new, world premiere opera called That Hellbound Train here in a couple weeks, and I hope to attend.
Ooh, I found a production that a college uploaded to YouTube! I very much prefer to see an opera live, but I’d already accepted that I would never see this production since it’s probably pretty rare.
I’ll definitely give it a watch, thanks for the rec!
Oh that’s awesome! Thanks for sharing the link; I’m gonna rewatch it.