A non-baby related post!*

[theatokos]

I went to the opera last night. San Francisco Opera's production of Handel's Ariodante, featuring Susan Graham and Ruth Ann Swenson. I went with my wonderful opera obsessed friend ctiee, she of The Opera Tattler. We stood, as is our normal MO. Getting out, BY MYSELF**, doing something non-hospital or baby related was incredibly restorative. I could get lost in the music, which was beautiful and very well executed by the opera symphony. I drank champagne at intermission. I pumped in a bathroom stall. You know, the things you do at the opera.

The plot of Ariodante is typical opera nonsense: love, two couples, spurned desired, plotting revenge, mistaken identity - same old same old. Pretty boring, and the staging for this production was mighty enh. The costumes were luscious, so thankfully there was some visual distraction. However, in this opera to the two love interests are pants roles (male characters played by women, because the vocal parts are so high). I loved the modern gender queer quality of that, even though it's a very traditional opera technique. The two main characters - played by my FAVORITE sopranos, Graham and Swenson - are stock characters but those two singers have so much life in their voices that I can't help but be sucked in. They have powerful, exquisite voices. Graham has tremendous nuance and subtlety in her voice. I just can't say enough good things about them. Seriously. Especially Graham. If you have a chance to see her perform - GO!

The other great performance was the other pants role, Polinesso, played by Sonia Prina. I'm not a huge fan of the contralto voice, but Prina acted well and sang with such technical skill that at one point, her ornamentation was so fast that I wanted to stand up and yell "Holy shit, she did NOT just do that!"

All in all, a delightful evening well spent.


*Ok, so I lied. While writing this, I got a phone call from the NICU saying that Benn was out of breast milk, so I rushed over my morning pump's worth and got to feed him. He is up to 6lbs, 1 oz!! And I'm pretty sure he's going to be a redhead. And - HE'S COMING HOME TOMORROW MORNING!!!

**My mother has been here for 10 days, has one week more to go and I'm really struggling. In her efforts not to take up space, to be useful and not be a burden, she takes up twice as much space. She won't say what she wants. Her language is peppered with "Oh I shouldn't." "I need to..." and "I should..." She just wants to tag along with me. Which is fine, except I realized the last time I had any alone time was last week when I went to yoga. And Adam and I had only 4 hours to ourselves (when we went out to breakfast and then to the hospital Friday morning). We asked her for and hour and a half alone in the apartment yesterday morning and she got upset and offended. SIGH.

Comments

[said-by-me.livejournal.com]

I am SO glad to hear you had an adult, non baby related night out.

YAY about him coming home. FINALLY!

[hrafntinna.livejournal.com]

Awesome.

[inkprincess.livejournal.com]

OMG...YAYAYAYYAYAYAYAYAY!!!! I'm so happy for you! Do we finally get a pic of Benn?? :)

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Ack! I keep forgetting my darn camera. Later today. Will. take. pictures. Hmmmm.... I might load one from the other day.

[alizarin71.livejournal.com]

Word to the pants, yo.

I like the way you describe the fast ornamentation--like a riffing jazz bassist or a scat singer.

The pantsing of opera sounds like an interesting tradition--did Handel write those parts with women in mind? I know a castrato could sing pretty high, but maybe not as high as a woman, and anyway the sound is very different.

I hear you about teh moms. Next time I see you guys, I will unapologetically ask for things, amiably take stage direction, and only take up a small space because I'm a ninja.

Very excited about Benn's next big step. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts until he's safely home.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Yes, the pants roles were for castrati, but since no one does that anymore, I hope, women sing them. But.... maybe one of them was a pants role? My music history is quite poor. I'd ask The Opera Tattler - she's knows more than most music professors!

[norasma.livejournal.com]

Benn is coming home!!!!!! yippee, you have no idea what you're in for, but it will be the best ever.
I have never been to an Opera but I desperately want to go. A new Opera house has been built in Toronto (about 2 hours away) and I want to go, The did/are still doing Wagner's Ring cycle, and I want to go, getting dressed up wouldn't hurt either.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Opera: ridiculous, over the top spectacle with fantastic music and often sublime singing. As long as you have a taste for the absurd and for that kind of music, you are good to go! Highly recommended entertainment.

(But, it is also a test of the modern attention span! Most operas are around 3 hours.)

[snowcalla.livejournal.com]

WOOT! On Benn comming home. Finally!

[thekitchenvixen.livejournal.com]

I am so happy that he's finally coming home! Niyama was born at 6 lbs 1 oz (tiny little thing!) What a coincidence! I am excited you finally get to be at home with your little one, and i can't wait to hear how everything goes.

[teamrose.livejournal.com]

I absolutely adore your icon. Every time I see your it, I *think about* borrowing it. Lovely.

[thekitchenvixen.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Its actually just something I made from getty images. You can use it if you want, for sure!

[teamrose.livejournal.com]

Your welcome. Thank you for the offer, but I've come to expect only seeing it when there is an entry/comment involving you. Heh

[msmidge.livejournal.com]

Happy baby homecoming! Enjoy it!

[teamrose.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you were able to enjoy an adult evening out, and alone.

I'm almost certain I was the first biracial redhead, ever born in Nevada. Although I'm glad the locks changed colors along with my skin tone, I much love redheads and wish I had one of my own. ;\ Lucky you!

Holy woohoo, 6lbs 1oz? Sounds like Benn is packing on the (oh so cute) baby fat, which definitely means we're all due for pictures! It's wonderful to hear that he is finally coming home, congratulations Mama ;]

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Hmmm..... what DO you look like lady? I realize you have never posted pictures of yourself.....

[teamrose.livejournal.com]

*thinks* are all my belly shots faceless? I have yet to get used to this swollen nose or the extra weight since discontinuing my bc. I guess it's time for photos!! I'll definitely post some photos.