If Only I Had...
May 2008
My iTunes: Elektra by Richard Strauss
...a large triple mocha from Costa Coffee (my favorite coffee place in London).
As I'm sure you've guessed by now if you're a regular reader, my life is very busy... hence I was not able to post yesterday. I had an art history final, then physical therapy, then packing, then a music history final, then down to D.C. to celebrate being done with finals by going to see Elektra at the Washington National Opera. My voice teacher had two tickets she couldn't use, so she gave them to me -- as if I wasn't already forever in her debt for teaching me to sing and helping me discover my love of music, then she does things like this! (She's just so wonderful and I am so blessed to have her in my life!)
The show got amazing reviews. The plot is loosely based on Sophocles' writings about Elektra, the daughter of Agamemnon, who desperately wants to kill her mother and her mother's lover because they murdered Agamemnon upon his return from the Trojan war. In the end, Elektra goes insane with hatred and revenge right after her brother, Orestes, kills the two murderers. It was really interesting to see how the opera fit with the time in which it was written.
I am coming to love Strauss -- the longer I listened, the more I liked it. It was really interesting to think about the way that the opera related to the time in which Strauss lived and composed and to see parallel ideologies. The set was really interesting -- it seemed like a blend of modern and 1920's. My favorite part of the set was a massive double-sided mirror that moved on its hinges, and the lighting really struck me as well. The singers were great, especially Christine Goerke, who played Chrysothemis. Susan Bullock really portrayed the character and insanity of Elektra well.
It was the perfect way to end my finals and take my mind off the stress of the past few days. (I found out Wednesday night that my housing fell through again and I'm once again homeless...) The dissonance and drama of the opera was a good way to take my mind off things.
2 comments:
As if I didn't miss London already... It's very London-esque weather here today though... I'm not enjoying it I must say. I tolerated it in London cause it's well... London, but in Philly it's not in the least tolerable!
playing catch-up here Christy....I know you are way busier than moi, but you still manage to almost post a pic a day....and such great images too!!!! loved all of them .....my fav. is the "miracle" shot from the last week's collection....your shot form Italy reminded me of key West...it's a breathtakingly beautiful shot.
and love all the warm shades in this mocha shot....
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