“Rataplan, rataplan, rataplan…” To drum beats we thrust our punching fists in victory.
This whole day is a victory for Art and for us. We catch a really comprehensive Warhol exhibit, and then off the subway almost get knocked over by some street art nibbling at the President. Would Andy have done a Trump? There’s definitely relationships between the two pictures below worth exploring. Maybe after dinner.
Ramen labors our chopsticks in weighty steam above browned pork on taxi colored yolk and shimmering scallion reeds. We are thrilled that Momofuku opened a restaraunt in Columbus Circle and now after dinner we are finally off to see one of our favorite comic operas, The Daughter of the Regiment.
I had never even heard of this opera, but Chaltin knew all about it and insisted we get tickets. The lesson of the evening will be to make love, not war; or maybe, make some war, then make love. Life can be complicated. Eat well. Whatever you do, at some point make some time to make some love.
I can still hear the Marquise of Berkenfield exclaim, “Sulpiiiiiice!”
Great performers are great listeners, and Stephanie Blythe’s timing is always on point giving punctuation to every performance. I hope the rest of the opera world appreciates her as much as I do. She is a treasure whose contribution raises every production.
Pretty Yende is tempestuously fun in the role of Marie and brandishes all of the brag, pout, and confidence of adolescence. More so, she leaves her own stamp of heritage on the character infusing her coloratura with the language of South Africa. Her chemistry with Camarena is full of warmth, maybe more sisterly than passionately, but you sense they really care for each other. We got to see them together in The Pearl Fishers too.
Tonight, Camarena risks the life of his character Tonio for love, but also risks his reputation as a tenor by going for an encore of 18 high C’s in “A Mes Amis”.
Applause. Expected but far from promised, the cheers last twice as long as the encore,.
Kathleen Turner even gives a cameo as the Duchess and critiques of her French accent aside, I’d like to believe that she and Stephanie shared some laughs over drinks together.
This evening is one of the magical ones. New York City at the Opera with my sweetheart.
Happy Valentines Day, L’ amour!
So what is La Fille Du Regiment all about? It begins with orphaned Marie who is adopted not by one soldier but by an entire regiment. Their affections for one another travel both ways. The regiment is not happy at all when she falls in love with some guy named Tonio, but Tonio undeterred proves himself a worthy suitor by joining the regiment and singing in an amazingly high register. He is awarded a medal, which is ‘easy if you’re willing to risk your own life.” The Marquise of Berkenfield is played by the incomperable Stephanie Blythe, arrives with an inheritence for Marie and the secret that she is not her sisters child like she said, but in reality is her child. Marie leaves the regiment and tries to fit in with the Marquise crowd to humourous effect. The ties that bind her to the regiment and Tonio are strong and all are reunited in the end.
Notes on the Production
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Composer………………………….……….. Gaetano Donezetti
Marie………………………………………..….. Pretty Yende
Tonio…………………………………………….. Javier Camarena
Marquise of Berkenfield……………. Stephanie Blythe
Sulpice…………………………………………. Alessandro Corbelli
Hortensius…………………………………… Paul Corona
Duchess of Krakenthorp…………… Kathleen Turner
Conductor…………………………………… Enrique Mazzola
Metropolitan Opera
2/15/19