Michelle and I went to see an opera last Monday night. We were guests of our friend and my colleague’s spouse, Chuck. We saw Verdi’s Rigoletto. It was great! I am not well-versed in opera, but I really enjoyed it. I usually enjoy a good tragedy. I must admit that there were times when Verdi’s instrumentation seemed a bit sing-songy for the tragic themes that were being played out on stage. It made me realize how my personal musical predispositions affect how I understand the mood of any performance.
The Duke’s well-known aria, “La donna e mobile,” was a highlight. I must admit, however, that I was completely unaware of the misogynistic themes within the song. Of course the Duke is a sex-crazed egomaniac in the opera. Still, it surprises me (and it doesn’t surprise me) that the most well-known piece from this opera, indeed one of the better known pieces of opera among the general public, is about women as objects of men’s desire, sung be a character who is a sexist pig. Sigh.
On another opera note…Pavarotti’s performance of Puccini’s Nessun Dorma last night at the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics was amazing. It brought me to tears.
That's kind of funny--the last time I spent much time watching the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics was in 1998. I'm pretty sure you were moved to tears that day, too, because I was watching them in the waiting room of the Princeton Hospital ER, while you were treated for a concussion.
But you probably don't remember that :-p
Posted by: Matt at February 14, 2006 04:43 PMIf I had tears that day. They were tears of confusion.
Posted by: Frank at February 14, 2006 04:51 PM