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September 26, 2006
Indoor Opera, Outdoors
I had a lovely, unexpected experience after leaving work today. I wandered by Lincoln Center, noticed a screen and large banner announcing Madame Butterfly, and realized it was opening night at the Met. The plaza was full of people and press, and the screen meant that the opera would be broadcast live for an al fresco audience sitting outside. This is all thanks to Peter Gelb, the new general manager for the Met, I think (last week he let random people into rehearsal, and on 10/6 he's doing $25 tix for La Boheme).
A red carpet was set up for somebodies on their way inside, and I caught a glimpse of Baryshnikov walking by (his appearance generated spontaneous applause). I wasn't enough of a gawker to hang around just for the celebs, so I went to run an errand or two, and planned to come back for a bit of the opera later. On my way out, I saw a collection of gorgeous opening-night-appropriate opera attire -- gowns, shawls, and designer-wear of a much more tasteful variety than what I usually see over there. It was a little strange to find it on the sidewalk, mingling with normal people. I couldn't help but stare at some of the dresses I liked. One woman was standing on the corner dressed like a true Madame Butterfly aficionado -- she was wearing a kimono.
Later, on my way back, I could hear the tenor from a block away. I wandered into the plaza, found a decent spot to stand, and got completely drawn into the story.
The story goes like this: An American Navy officer visits Japan, becomes enchanted by a Geisha, and marries her. She takes the marriage seriously, he doesn't. He sails away, she waits for three years with his son, remaining faithful to the hope that he'll return to stay with her. He does return, but with a western wife, and you can imagine how heartbreaking the whole thing gets at the end. I had forgotten that the beginning is sad, too, though -- you know it's going to turn out badly for Butterfly from the start.
It's an impossibly sad story, and Puccini does a very good job at tearing out your heart with the music. I had seen the opera before, but this was a new production, and the new minimalist set brought the story into relief and focused more attention on the two main characters. Isolation, abandonment, and longing are all conveyed a bit better by a mostly dark set. Floating globes of light (maneuvered by invisible dancers) also did a good job of adding a surreal element to the scene.
Something about the music outdoors and the close-up of the action on stage -- and possibly just the unexpected nature of it all -- made everything very enjoyable than I think it might have been inside. I hope they do this again with another opera.
Posted by csageday at September 26, 2006 12:38 AM