The opera? Really? I’ve given some thought to how I am going to use my extra free time in retirement, but attending the opera wasn’t really on my radar. You will need to convince me.
OK. Here goes.
As you can probably tell from the photos, we have just attended the COC’s production of Carmen at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. This is why it is fresh in my mind, and why I thought this was a good time to write about it. I have to tell you that I am not an opera aficionado, or even a casual buff. I just happen to have a very wide range of musical interests … kudos to my high-school band experience.
A few years ago a colleague convinced me to join him for a Canadian Opera Company performance when his wife was unable to attend. Being a music lover I jumped at the chance, and quite enjoyed the experience. I have been a casual attendee since; probably once every two years. I love the music, and I enjoy the theatrical experience opera embodies..
If you find that attending an occasional opera is something you enjoy, you will discover that this provides you with another outing to fill in your travel plans. It is a great thing to do while travelling. The Love-goddess and I took in a production of Otello at the Vienna Opera House in 2007. This was a spur of the moment decision, and even though that evening’s show was sold out we managed to get standing room passes … for three Euros.
The Music
So, you like music as well, but you’re thinking you wont know any of the music you will hear at any given opera. This is probably not the case. In all likelihood you will recognise one or two pieces from most of the popular operas you may choose to attend.
Here are a couple of examples from Carmen. Go to YouTube and watch the clips of “L’Amour Est un Oiseau Rebelle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2snTkaD64U)” and “Votre toast, je peux vous le render (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf5VG2vMTIk)”. Give them a listen … make sure you listen to at least the half way point in each. This will also give you a chance to sample the theatrical elements.
Understanding What Is Going On
You might also be thinking that you wont enjoy it because you know that all classic operas are written in a European language you wont understand. Modern technology has taken care of all that. Where you see the SunLife credit in the photo above is where you will see an English translation of all of the dialogue and lyrics throughout the entire production. You will know exactly what is going on and what is being said and sung. The programs that are distributed as you enter also provide an overview of the storyline for each act.
Intermission
If you are worried about the performance dragging on forever, there is a light in the “middle” of the tunnel. There is always a decent length intermission allowing for a bathroom break, and to provide an opportunity to grab a refreshing and reinvigorating adult beverage at the bar. As you can see, the bar in the main lobby of the Four Season Centre is a very popular spot during intermission — if only for the people watching entertainment value.
My Real Agenda
I suppose my real agenda here is not to persuade anyone to start attending operas on a semi-regular basis, or even to attend a single one if she or he is truly not interested. It is really about reminding myself, my fellow retirees, and those of you who will soon be joining us that it is important that we not allow ourselves to get to complacent and sedentary.
It would be easy enough to slip into the known and familiar, and let our lives rotate around what we have always done or enjoyed. To keep us moving forward and growing, it is probably a good idea to push ourselves outside of our comfort zones and try new things … like attending an opera. Who knows what great new discoveries await?
