We went to see the San Francisco Opera do La Bohème. For once I could see where all the money goes: there were great stage sets and massive set pieces with loads of people on stage with snow falling. Famous singer Angela Gheorghiu was quiet, but up and coming baritone Quinn Kelsey was brilliant. He also looks like an opera singer should too (he is not thin).
This opera is not long but for some reason SF Opera decided to have two intervals. The first act was great but the first interval removed all the momentum. I would have preferred a straight shot all the way through but then they wouldn't have made money at the bar.
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Actually, intermissions are about two important things: allowing the singers to rest a bit and change costumes and also changing the scenery... There are 4 very different sets in La Boheme, and you need time to change from one to the next... Unless you would prefer a Eurotrash production of this opera that takes place on some construction site in Stalinist Soviet Union? :-)
ReplyDeleteJust kidding... But the intermissions are really necessary in older opera houses, especially in those like the War Memorial Opera House where you don't have all the technical niceties of the Met or the Bastille, where they can change from Act I to Act II of La Boheme in a matter of 3 or 4 minutes...
Thanks Mikebench for the useful comment. I never thought about the singers resting. And I did like the sets. Maybe a gravel pit would be a good setting? I just hate all that waiting for the show to get going again.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew!
ReplyDeleteI am posting on behalf of Classical TV Performing Arts Online. I saw your post about your recent viewing of La Boheme and I thought you might be interested in our free webcast of a Jonathan Miller's new production of La Boheme.
Feel free to check it out at Classical TV Performing Arts Online.
Enjoy!