JSN told me that I have to write about this before I forget. Tonight she, JM and I went to the Metropolitan Opera to see Madame Butterfly in celebration of JM's birthday. Today had been a hectic one for all of us but we met for dinner at the Time Warner Center and proceeded to Lincoln Center.
We had earlier spent hours in a salon downtown where our creative hairdresser put JS's hair in dreads and chopped my hair up. I got my hair returned by the colorist from Texas to its original brown/red status.
Our seats were excellent in the first tier of balcony boxes but we were all separated into three consecutive boxes. In each of the boxes it has to be said that there were several assholes seated in close proximity to us. It would hard to judge who had the worst and rudest personages nearby. I was fortunate to have a tiny and very nicely put together 80 something year old next to me, who came to the opera with her grandson.
This woman and I griped about the rude people and rolled our eyes. We spoke about the harsh winter and other small items. She seemed lively and intelligent.
Returning to the topic of Madame Butterfly, the set was beautifully done by the now deceased Anthony Minghella. Madame's B's (Cio-Cio San's) child is famously known in this stage production for being a Bunraku marionette that is manipulated by 3 people in black costumes. The marionette was pretty creepy looking and was probably used as a means of avoiding child actor regulations.
The second act of Madame Butterfly is divided in two parts and the marionette is on stage throughout. When the lights went on after the first half of Act 2, this nice woman and I chatted once again. I almost swallowed my teeth when she commented, "That little boy was as cute as he could be! I suppose they use different children for the role." Please check the above photo so you can concur that this was an amazing example of cognitive dissonance.
We had earlier spent hours in a salon downtown where our creative hairdresser put JS's hair in dreads and chopped my hair up. I got my hair returned by the colorist from Texas to its original brown/red status.
Our seats were excellent in the first tier of balcony boxes but we were all separated into three consecutive boxes. In each of the boxes it has to be said that there were several assholes seated in close proximity to us. It would hard to judge who had the worst and rudest personages nearby. I was fortunate to have a tiny and very nicely put together 80 something year old next to me, who came to the opera with her grandson.
This woman and I griped about the rude people and rolled our eyes. We spoke about the harsh winter and other small items. She seemed lively and intelligent.
Returning to the topic of Madame Butterfly, the set was beautifully done by the now deceased Anthony Minghella. Madame's B's (Cio-Cio San's) child is famously known in this stage production for being a Bunraku marionette that is manipulated by 3 people in black costumes. The marionette was pretty creepy looking and was probably used as a means of avoiding child actor regulations.
The second act of Madame Butterfly is divided in two parts and the marionette is on stage throughout. When the lights went on after the first half of Act 2, this nice woman and I chatted once again. I almost swallowed my teeth when she commented, "That little boy was as cute as he could be! I suppose they use different children for the role." Please check the above photo so you can concur that this was an amazing example of cognitive dissonance.
looks like a fun time! Madame Butterfly was the first opera I ever saw and will always be at the top of my 'favorites' list.