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Jul. 22nd, 2009 04:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nonionayLast night, I saw La Traviata at the Pickford Cinema. Not quite the same as seeing it live in a real theatre, but in some ways better, since you can actually see the singers and their costumes and their expressions. (I was particularly fond of the conductor, who looke exactly like you imagine a conductor should, and his wrinkled face was so expressive. You could tell he loved what he was doing.
I don't know if La Traviata just has a better plot than some operas*, or if the actors were just good, but I actually bought the plot,** (instead of just being in it for the music). The guy who played Alfredo, in particular, was marvelous. he didn't even need to sing, he just looked sweet and innocent, even though the actor also looks like he should be a bouncer at a seedy club.
I haven't seen an opera since 2000, when Ilsa and I splurged and saw Don Quixote when we were in Paris. (It was what was playing. I remember being a little disappointed.) So I realize I haven't really thought about opera plotting in relation to my writing. I listen to the music all the time, but the plots? Who cared?
This time I paid more attention. An opera plot is driven by almost nothing but emotion. In the case of La Traviata, it hits only the high emotional points of a relationship. Those points are the plot points, and they're only achieved because a character reacted emotionally to something. Since I'm so lousy with emotion, I'm going to attempt to rip it off and write something short set in my world, that exactly follows the plot and characters. (though I'll be a rebel and see if I can do it with swapped genders.)
*They had a guide to future operas they're going to show. i don't know if they've just got a bad summary, but Rigoletto sounds incredibly nonsensical. Why are they going to kill the first person that comes along instead of the guy they were paid to whack?
** Even so... Consumption LOL
I don't know if La Traviata just has a better plot than some operas*, or if the actors were just good, but I actually bought the plot,** (instead of just being in it for the music). The guy who played Alfredo, in particular, was marvelous. he didn't even need to sing, he just looked sweet and innocent, even though the actor also looks like he should be a bouncer at a seedy club.
I haven't seen an opera since 2000, when Ilsa and I splurged and saw Don Quixote when we were in Paris. (It was what was playing. I remember being a little disappointed.) So I realize I haven't really thought about opera plotting in relation to my writing. I listen to the music all the time, but the plots? Who cared?
This time I paid more attention. An opera plot is driven by almost nothing but emotion. In the case of La Traviata, it hits only the high emotional points of a relationship. Those points are the plot points, and they're only achieved because a character reacted emotionally to something. Since I'm so lousy with emotion, I'm going to attempt to rip it off and write something short set in my world, that exactly follows the plot and characters. (though I'll be a rebel and see if I can do it with swapped genders.)
*They had a guide to future operas they're going to show. i don't know if they've just got a bad summary, but Rigoletto sounds incredibly nonsensical. Why are they going to kill the first person that comes along instead of the guy they were paid to whack?
** Even so... Consumption LOL
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Date: 2009-07-22 11:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-23 04:30 am (UTC)There's another showing on Sunday at 11am, but it'll be full price--21$. But considering how much real opera tickets are, I think it could be worth it. Looks like they've got Aida and Rigoletto coming up, among others. The previews looked exciting. The guide I got says Rigoletto is Leo Rucci, who's played the role 400 freaking times.