February 2, 2019: 7:30pm
This opera was the first that I have ever attended, so I did not know what to expect as I entered the hall. As I sat down and looked at the stage, there was a set; two risers on either sides and a structure in the centre that had the appearance of pillars with multiple ramps. Again, I had no idea what to expect. Before the first act, I perused the program. Finding the synopsis, I read it quietly as the rest of the audience filled the room. Looking back, having read the synopsis really helped me to understand what was going on as I watched. Anyways, there I was, sitting there on the edge of my seat awaiting the first notes of an orchestra I couldn’t see. The lights dimmed as the orchestra struck the first chords…
The overture began with such force that I was immediately drawn into the intensity of the music. I noticed that the piece included a lot of quick, moving parts which I think increased the tension and expectancy that I felt as it began. The first piece began, with intensity and movement, creating a sense of urgency and drawing me into the story. When the three ladies appeared, I was struck by their stage costumes. Each one wearing a different colour with very different styles, I found it fascinating and beautiful. As each entered (singing), they each had a slightly different colour of performance which helped me understand why they’d each been given their own colour. It was also very fun when they physically expressed their desires to stay with Tamino and to not allow the others to stay. They would pull each other away and looked at each other with intensity. Another thing I noticed is Papageno’s pieces often included him literally playing his pipes, which created a very light feel to the song. The young man who played Papageno was on the smaller side and this, plus his costume, created a wonderful representation of the character. His expressions of wanting to find a girl were paired with a group of bird ladies, which flitted around him as he sang. It was a great way to reflect the way in which he desired to catch a woman but was unable to take hold. As the Queen of the Night arrived, I was struck by the strength of her song. It was intense and emotional from her longing to see her daughter. Yet, suddenly, as she declared Tamino as the hero who would rescue Pamina, her song began to have intense runs in a very high register. I was a bit confused but also fascinated by the way her song changed.
The other piece I noticed was very interesting was Papagena and Papageno’s song. As they sang together, the song itself moved with their emotions and interactions, which I thought was cool. Another thing I noticed was that there was one melodic line that was repeated many times throughout the piece. It created something very memorable for me and whenever I heard it, I felt like it lightened the overall story.
Overall, when I left the hall after the opera ended, I was left feeling very overwhelmed by the entire show. It was so intense and beautiful that I was left in wonder by the skill of the singers and the creativity of the opera and its story. This was the first opera I’ve attended but it definitely won’t be the last.