The Marriage of Figaro
Feb. 22nd, 2020 02:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitThis time last year SM and I went to see La Boheme. We were both very disappointed and at the time I said I wanted to see a Mozart opera, and one sung in the original language. So, when, one month later (last March) I saw the Welsh National Opera were performing The Marriage of Figaro at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff in Italian, with surtitles I booked us tickets.
What I didn't realise was that this was the day before a Six Nations rugby international match with Wales against France at Cardiff Arms Park. So my plan to stay overnight was not feasible (hotel costs being astronomic). We ummed and erred and decided we'd go by train. Except the last train was at 11.20 and we wouldn't leave the Millennium Centre until 10.30 and would have to get back to the train station (with rugby preparations already underway). Which was a bit of a concern, until finally I came up with a plan: we'd drive to Newport, stay at an Ibis and get the train to and from Cardiff from there (if we missed the 11.20 there were a couple of later ones). Which is what we did. Traffic was horrendous along the M4 (as per normal) and we ended up walking back from Newport station to the hotel which wouldn't have been too bad if it hadn't started raining halfway back. But overall the plan worked.
As for the opera - okay, opera's never going to be one of my great loves. But the WNO are extremely good, and although I don't speak Italian I could make out the words very clearly. The surtitles were clear, and once I'd convinced my brain I only needed to read half (the other half being in Welsh) it was easy to glance up and then go back to watching the action. Apart from a couple of the arias, most of Mozart's music is variations on a theme, which isn't inspiring, and by the end I was tiring of the solos. But as I said, opera isn't one of my great loves, and I accept I'm not going to be wowed by everything. The costumes were beautiful - very much of Mozart's time. The scenery was good and used very well. I found it an excellent production.
At some point I would go and see the WNO again, but preferrably not on a rugby international weekend, so we could stay in Cardiff and spend some time wandering around Cardiff Bay. I'm included this as part of February's 'Something New' being an opera sung in the original language.
What I didn't realise was that this was the day before a Six Nations rugby international match with Wales against France at Cardiff Arms Park. So my plan to stay overnight was not feasible (hotel costs being astronomic). We ummed and erred and decided we'd go by train. Except the last train was at 11.20 and we wouldn't leave the Millennium Centre until 10.30 and would have to get back to the train station (with rugby preparations already underway). Which was a bit of a concern, until finally I came up with a plan: we'd drive to Newport, stay at an Ibis and get the train to and from Cardiff from there (if we missed the 11.20 there were a couple of later ones). Which is what we did. Traffic was horrendous along the M4 (as per normal) and we ended up walking back from Newport station to the hotel which wouldn't have been too bad if it hadn't started raining halfway back. But overall the plan worked.
As for the opera - okay, opera's never going to be one of my great loves. But the WNO are extremely good, and although I don't speak Italian I could make out the words very clearly. The surtitles were clear, and once I'd convinced my brain I only needed to read half (the other half being in Welsh) it was easy to glance up and then go back to watching the action. Apart from a couple of the arias, most of Mozart's music is variations on a theme, which isn't inspiring, and by the end I was tiring of the solos. But as I said, opera isn't one of my great loves, and I accept I'm not going to be wowed by everything. The costumes were beautiful - very much of Mozart's time. The scenery was good and used very well. I found it an excellent production.
At some point I would go and see the WNO again, but preferrably not on a rugby international weekend, so we could stay in Cardiff and spend some time wandering around Cardiff Bay. I'm included this as part of February's 'Something New' being an opera sung in the original language.
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Date: 2020-02-22 06:06 pm (UTC)I am glad however that despite Mozart not being your favourite you still enjoyed most of it and had a good time with SM.
I hope you weren't chilled after the rain?
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Date: 2020-02-22 06:16 pm (UTC)Yes, I have no regrets about going and can see us going again at some point.
We were wet but fine - my coat was warm but rather soggy by the time we were back.
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Date: 2020-02-22 06:41 pm (UTC)May your next visit be on a drier less manic day!
Glad you were fine and only your coat became soggy.🙂
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Date: 2020-02-22 10:09 pm (UTC)I've not seen Figaro live (though it was on tv a few years ago). I'm glad it was intelligible between the clarity of the singing and the surtitles. I think too that seeing the opera in a trad setting is probably best. The format of opera is 'stiffer' than other theatre; and mucking about with the interpretation might create incongruities.
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Date: 2020-02-22 10:22 pm (UTC)The opera didn't seem particularly dated - it was a Mozart opera so felt right that the costumes etc were of that period. As you say the particular format works best when left alone.
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Date: 2020-02-23 12:37 am (UTC)I am definitely an opera person, but I feel meh about ballet so I totally get you.
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