Opera for the Hoi Polloi

Today was the big day, the day that the general public got their first chance to experience the accoustic qualities of the new Opera House as they enjoyed the sounds and swells of a gala concert. Of course, if like myself, you didn't have $150 to lay out for a seat, you could share in the experience across the street, at Nathan Phillips Square.

Unfortunately, the subtleties of a finely crafted opera house do tend to get lost when transposed onto an open air stage, making the experience lacklustre as a whole. Despite this (and the inability to reliably know what it sounded like indoors) the singing was top notch. One singer even managed to hit a Super C - which, according to my opera singer companion for the evening, is a note that is extremely rare and impressive to be able to hit.

Perhaps the high point of the night was a gift from nature. Just before the sun had set, a light rain began to fall. This caused a full-arc rainbow to appear to the south, stretching from the TD tower until the Eaton Centre. Were I a man to paraphrase liberally from religious texts, I might have likened this rainbow appearing at the dawn of the end of a quarter century of struggle for an opera house, to the rainbow that appeared before Noah after the flood. In both cases they promised better things to come. Of course, I'm not such a man, so I'll leave it to my readers to make their own assumptions.

In the end though, it was an enjoyable, if slightly muted evening. But then again, in how many other places can one listen to the beauteous notes of some of the world's greatest singers while fighting off seagulls and eating a beef sausage?

Only in Toronto.

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the outside experience sounds almost poetic. =) that being said, do you know anyone that was inside and can speak for the sound quality? i'm very intrigued.

Posted by: Sameer Vasta [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 14, 2006 10:56 PM

Hey Sameer:

Sadly, I don't. However the weekend of the 24th, they'll be doing free tours and mini-concerts for the public. I'll be there (hopefully with my operatic friend) to give everybody the run down.

I think they may be doing something for subscribers earlier too.

Posted by: St Dan at June 15, 2006 9:12 AM

Well, compared to the way things used to be, involving the public like this, along with the discounted seats being offered for regular performances, I think the COC has come a long way.

Posted by: Hamish Grant at June 15, 2006 9:13 AM

Probably going to buy my subscription for 06/07 next week, so I guess I'll be getting more info then. I'll let you know what I think if there's any previews any time soon.

Posted by: Sameer Vasta [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 15, 2006 9:15 AM

If you're under 30 years old, you get a deal, right?

Posted by: jerrold at June 15, 2006 11:08 AM

Sameer:

Subscribers get to attend an open house this weekend. Better subscribe soon!

Jerrold:

Yes, if you're under 30, they have special rush-like seats for quite a good price. I believe the programme is called 'Opera for a New Age'. There's only a limited number of seats though, so you need to act quickly.

Posted by: St Dan at June 15, 2006 11:36 AM

working all weekend, so i guess that doesn't help much. i'll hold off until next week, i have a cheque coming in on friday evening.

Posted by: Sameer Vasta [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 15, 2006 3:03 PM

I'll see you there then. Rock Paper Scissors for blogging rights?

Posted by: St Dan at June 15, 2006 10:55 PM

i'm a killer at roshambo, so you might be up against a challenge. =)

but it seems as though you have a better handle on all of this than i do, i'd gladly pass it over.

Posted by: Sameer Vasta [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 15, 2006 11:02 PM

I'm quite handy with my hands as well, actually.

Maybe we should get a blogTO team together for the world championships this year...

Posted by: St Dan at June 16, 2006 10:29 AM

YES! Let's have a blogTO team and compete. I lived in Japan for two years and worked with kids. Janken (Rock, Paper, Scissors) was a daily practice, and the most democratic solutions to almost all disputes and at times was played just for fun.

Posted by: jerrold at June 16, 2006 11:15 AM

Hmm ... the highest note sung by a singer at the COC gala and at the subsequent COC concerts was a High F, a few notes above the High C that your friend mentioned. I believe that was from Mozart's Magicflute aria. The role of the Queen of the Night in that opera sings at the extreme high range, and demands performers who can reach beyond the norms of a regular soprano.

Posted by: Jan at June 18, 2006 12:45 AM

Jan:

The note (just the once, mind you) that my friend heard was a Super C, not a High C (that's one octave above a High C, and a few notes above the High F)

But yes, she was remarking that it was exceptional.

Posted by: St Dan at June 20, 2006 12:42 PM

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