the pearl fishers
I
saw “The Pearl Fishers” @ the San Jose opera.
I
went into it with an open mind – because I HAVE been disappointed when I have
expected extreme brilliance. But this
was fabulous.
It’s
an “Orient” opera, because it’s during that time during the Romantic period
when the vogue thing to do was to explore everything that wasn’t European,
taking from it & passing it off as art.
Or belittling it & passing it off as art. Although instead of “Oriental” women naked
& being just there as sexual objects – which is pretty much rude as fuck – this opera is
respectful. There is a non-European feel
with all of the harps, oboes, triangles, percussion, & drums… but it’s not
ORIENTAL. Or @ least there’s no OVERT
belittlement of culture. They probably
kinda screwed up with the whole like “pray to the golden tresses of Siva thing,”
tho. Also I thought Siva was Shiva.
Like the guy. Like the GOD of
death. Like who is the goddess
Siva?????/ & why do they have blonde
hair? OKAY THE ORIGINAL WRITERS FUCKED
UP ON AN AMOUNT OKAY.
The
dancers were mostly Asian. One guy
looked pretty Arabic. He was also pretty
hot. They had a lot of open-stanced
positions. Flat feet with knees rising
up. Oh & different, basic hand
positions. But no like trying to mold to
the hand positions of Bollywood. Because
if you do those wrong… you fuck up big time.
So it was like really generic. Or
@ least I hope it was. The ballet
choreographer IS a white woman so… you never know.
A
lot of the cast was of different races, which is something I think I take for
granted of. I’m so happy I live in a
place that can actually cast different races, unlike somewhere in Idaho where
everyone is just white. Or even The
Hunger Games. A lot of the chorus looked
some form of Polynesian & there were East Asians & a few looked a bit
Indian. Tho I was like seated in the
back so I can’t really vouch for super clarity.
Although
the main cast of males were not as diverse [you can’t win all the battles;
altho I think they should have @ LEAST made an effort. IDK.
They are in a company so…].
Although I am thankful that no one was made tanner than they were
[brown-facing IS black-facing, people & will never be acceptable], although
their brows were made darker & thicker.
IDK.
But
the main woman was just beautiful. She’s
latina & she had the most gorgeous voice.
I mean her range was just so fucking powerful. I was in row Q & she was able to just hit me right in the chest. I was just SWOONING all over myself listening
to her go from the low to the SUPER RIDICULOUSLY HIGH & just holding it
there like it was nothing. I mean the
rest of the singers were great, too, but she really was my favorite. I blew kisses @ her when she took her
bows. Not like she saw me. I actually hope she didn’t see me. But her range truly was phenomenal. Just… angelic. Beautiful.
Effortless. Yes.
The
set was really beautiful. They got like
the lighting down perfectly – especially on the backdrop. Like the sunsets & sunrises just
seamlessly went from reds & blues & purples & magentas, all just
mixing into each other like a real sky.
& the set had all of these lovely stone textures. They poured some money into that. & it paid off.
&
the conductor was really cute. He was
really young, too, & even all the 60+ year-olds exclaimed when they saw
him. “Oh my he’s so young!” “Oh look @ him!” Of course my mom & I leaned in &
exchanged some words. Oh boy.
Although
the person behind me was a pain in the ass.
Some older woman with like no teeth who kept clucking or whatever you
call that noise because I guess her throat was dry. During like the entire 1st half of
the 1st Act. Finding a happy
place was really hard because I wanted to strangle all of the life out of
her. The woman to my left kept looking
back @ her, too. Probably to give her
some stank or side eye. Or some
discerning look.
I
mean it’s just rude to do that. I mean
it’s like we’re in an institution that requires you to LISTEN to enjoy
yourself. If you’re going to interrupt
my ability to enjoy the work, you should just leave. If this were a higher establishment – try
like New York – her old ass would’ve been booted. This seems insensitive & it probably is,
but whatever. Dude it’s a goddamn
OPERA. I wanna LISTEN TO THE FUCKING
OPERA IN FUCKING PEACE.
But
it was lovely. It was a lovely surprise
with a wonderful, lovely soprano – who is now being added to the company. So I’ll be seeing more of her. :D
But hopefully less of the woman behind me. But hopefully more of that wonderful woman.
I
might post my music class assignment.
Because that actually has the story.
But pretty much it’s this:
Bros
before hoes. Do you choose your bro or
do you choose the ho over the bro?
Except it’s waaaaay super more complex.
& it’s about LOL U GOTTA STAY A VIRGIN & “PURE” OR ELSE IT’S YER
FAULT & WE’LL KILL YOU. I mean why
not kill the guy who GETS with the priestess?
He’s the one that’s really “tainting” her, right? But no it’s always HER fault. Always gotta put the blame on the GIRL WHO
ASKED FOR IT.
Lol
these sexual standards that we still hold ourselves, too. I MEAN LOOK @ THOSE YE OLDE RAPE CULTURE
STANDARDS WE STILL UPHOLD. Man our world
is so silly sometimes, man. & by
silly I mean really disturbing. & by
disturbing I mean morally disturbing.
Also
never watch “The Experiment” with Adrien Brody.
That is just morally disturbing to the infinity power. Just… yeah.
Really not yeah.
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