Summer OPERA - here we go!

*Attila* by Giuseppe Verdi

It's *Attila* the Hun and his hungry hoards! Sacking, pillaging, raping....look out!

Yes, dear friends... it's time for my seasonal report on the goings-ons, Front-of-House and Back-of House at San Francisco Opera!  It's where I have been for (almost) two weeks....with a little free time to see Marianne and to go to one Symphonic Concert yesterday, featuring my beloved Maestro and our SF Opera Orchestra.

Taken from the backstage camera as the stage crew changes sets from *Nixon in China* to *Attila*..  If you look really closely at the top left portion of the screen, you will see part of the "747" - life size - where the Nixons and Henry Kissinger deplane at Peking.  (Now, Beijing.)  I thought it was so amusing to imagine all the Huns deplaning and running a muck past all those impaled bodies,(next to the jet) to scale that mountain to the extreme right....

We have a real SUPERSTAR in the Opera World, Samuel Ramey, singing a small, but vital role in *Attila*...the Pope!  Twenty years ago, he sang the lead in *Attila*.    Mr. Ramey has been an operatic legend, singing in starring roles for over 40 years.  I couldn't resist taking a few photos of his beautiful, richly embellished *Papal Robes* - plus his costume name tag.

Mostly, the costumes are war-like, armour....breastplates, swords, spears....you get it! It's a violent story!

Here's a clip....(not our production....but you get it)!  It's a HUGE opera....80 people in the chorus alone....and when you add in the Orchestra, the Principal Singers and the supers...it's close to 200!  Yikes!

Yep...*Attila* is killed at the end by a (gasp) WOMAN!  The deliciously-named "Odabella"!

Our second operatic offering is 180 degrees different.

*The Magic Flute* by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

One of the *Magical* Beasts that Tamino, our hero, summons with his Magic Flute!

This is a whimsical, yet often poignant and meaningful fantasy..... it happens to be the first piece of music by Mozart that moved me....made me * understand and appreciate his genius*....  this production is full of bright colour and will bring joy to all the audience. It is being done in English, rather than German and is sure to bring delight to children and first-time opera goers as well as * Veterans* like me!

The Poster for *Magic Flute*  Pretty, cool, eh?

A sketch showing the *Evil, Two-headed Snake* that attacks Tamino !

Here is the real snake, under construction.... I saw it on stage for the first time last Saturday....it is huge, operated by on-stage men, who manipulate the heads, jaws etc.
I love it!  Him?  Her?  It?  Them?

We have another renown Opera Singer in this cast...Nathan Gunn.   Here he is in his *Papageno* costume. He's a bird-like person, who catches birds for a living!

Some of the costume sketches for *Flute*

Tamino - the Prince

The *Queen of the Night*...the mother of the Princess.

Monostatos - the *Evil Villain*

The *Creatures of the Forest* who come to Tamino's Flute Call.

Here's a video of Tamino summoning the animals (in this production, they are all Bears), but you can see how sweet the music is!

Don't they remind you of some of Mim's creations?  They do to me....and 
I came across this Fish....really  a *Mim-Fish* for sure!  Hmm...Mim, perhaps you could start designing costumes for operas!

Our third Operatic offering - and my favourite production ... 

*Nixon in China* by John Adams

Nixon and Chairman Mao discuss the world situation.

The set for the final scene...taken by my friend, Ann, during a rehearsal last week.

This clip (also not our production, but the Met's from 2011) shows Madame Mao, protesting while the Nixons are at the Chinese Opera. I am not a big fan of John Adams Operas...  but I find this one extremely interesting.  I was very young when these events occurred in the 70's...and though the opera is not 100% factual, I found it powerful and moving.

Some of those *infamous* red starred- hats from the production.

One of the *Stars*.......oops,  that's Me!  A-ha-ha!  I couldn't resist trying on one of the hats!

So....there was your first Opera post from 2012....  I hope you enjoyed it! 
This week, we will be in *Final Dress Rehearsal* Mode....next week, it all begins for real!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥