I’m very excited to take my family to their first opera. It feels like a really special reunion since I haven’t seen them for a while.
I have to put my hand in my pockets to refuse my Aunt who is trying to give me money for the tickets to which my dad’s wife comments that I’m just like him giving money away, which we don’t really have. It’s not our fault, it’s a trait we get from the most generous of men, my Grandpop, who inspired us to be a family of givers.
Besides, I couldn’t put a price on this reunion.
Great to also reunite with the Academy of Vocal Arts. I haven’t seen them since the old days with the group from school – forty operas ago.
We have center seats and the production and singing has a compelling momentum. It is a traditional set, with exciting sword fights, and the entire opera rings true of how it feels to be young, impetuous, and in love. The Academy singers give their all and I can feel it in the energy in the audience.
Even though the opera runs to 11 on a weeknight the family stuck it out to the end and I’m glad they liked it, but sorry there wasn’t time to go out afterward.
So what is Roméo et Juliette all about? It begins with 2 little kids and when they are separated the boy gives her the flowers as he goes. They are proxies for Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. The chorus in the beginning explains that there is a feud between the montagues and the capulets. During a party everyone sings of youth and living for the moment. The two have instant chemistry and Romeo asks to restore the honor to her hand by kissing it and she moves in close and playfully pulls down his mask. The two soon after secretly marry by the priest who also mixes potions. Romeo tries to mend the families quarrels but Tybalt rights and kills Romeo’s friend Mercutio forcing Romeo to then fight and kill Tybalt. The duke exiles him. Romeo and Juliet spend a wedding night together and good libretto where the morning lark means they must part but then he says its just the nightingale singing of their love. Juliet now makes the ridiculous plan to fake her own death so she doesn’t have to marry Paris. When Romeo comes in and thinks she is dead he drinks the poison too.
Listen for:
Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle
Non, ce n’est pas le jour
Notes on the production
_____________________________
Composer………………………… Charles Gounod
Romeo………………………………. Mathew White
Juliet……………………………..…… Meryl Dominguez
Mercutio……………………..…….. Daniel Gallegos
Stephano……………………..…… Gabriela Flores
Frere…………………………….……. Brent Michael Smith
Conductor…………………………. Steven Mosteller
Academy of Vocal Arts
5/8/19