Carmen and other week-end activities.
Jul. 25th, 2004 10:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
e_julianaI'll talk about Carmen first, since it's been on my mind for 48 hours.
We saw the remount of Carmen at Theatre de la Jeune Lune, a company that came over from France a couple decades ago, and a company that is like no other I've seen. Most of that is due to the French roots, I'm sure, but Jeune Lune is very odd, as a rule. I disagree with who they are run on occasion, but I will admit that they always make bold choices. The choices don't always work, but one cannot accuse Jeune Lune of being bland.
Carmen was originally produced last year when most of the Jeune Lune company was in New York, opening Hamlet. It stars a powerhouse pair of sisters, the Baldwins, with Jennifer playing Micaela and Frasquita and Christina playing Carmen.
It was an amazingly done show. Don Jose is a baritone instead of a tenor, but it worked for me. The stage was simple - a thrust with entrances underneath the main audience and on the back wall, as well as a door a story up that had a path down for the mountain scenes. The costumes were very simple, with the exception of Carmen's last dress. The script was arranged so that it almost felt like a drama with singing than an opera-opera, and it worked.
The only problem I had with the show was some of the ensemble's acting. I had to remind myself that opera acting is not our acting, and adjust accordingly. That problem was not present with the four leads, thankfully.
Hmmm. More tired than I thought, because I can't really come up with an analysis. Oh, well.
Yesterday, I ran 8 miles and then ran around like a madwoman trying to find a bloody skirt. I forgot that IKEA had just opened up across the way from the Mall of America, and so was not prepared for the madhouse that greeted me when I went to the MOA. Oy. I did drop off the fabric for the corset & meet with Z's cousins who are decorating the reception, so I felt a little accomplished. When Zach got home from work, we went through the rest of our CD collection and picked out songs for the reception. We now have approximately twice the amount of music we need, which is good, but the winnowing process will be harrowing. Harrowing, I tell you.
This morning, we got up early and went to the Farmer's Market with Z's mom. I love going there, especially with Sadie. We went to her favorite flower guy, who creates monstrous bouquets for only $10, and talked about what I want for the wedding. Then we just wandered about, and I got the world's densent watermelon. Seriously, this thing is 16 pounds and is not all that large. Also got tomatoes and avocados for guacamole, but I'll wait to make that until tomorrow. Or Tuesday.
Dropped Z off at work, went to REI for a new sports bra & CLIF shots, and then went to the fabric store and got taffeta and netting for the skirt. Dropped that off, went into Uptown to get Bodyglide and return the library book, and I decided to stop into Ragstock to see what they had in the way of fun clothing. Lo and behold, what did they have? Friggin' ballerina skirts. I was only saved from a meltdown by the fact that they only had purple & ice blue.
Gave Z the truck, regaled him with my shopping expeditions, and came home to clean and bake oven-"fried" chicken for us and our friends who just had their baby. Oh, and chop up 16 pounds of watermelon.
Now, I think I'll go to bed. Yes.
We saw the remount of Carmen at Theatre de la Jeune Lune, a company that came over from France a couple decades ago, and a company that is like no other I've seen. Most of that is due to the French roots, I'm sure, but Jeune Lune is very odd, as a rule. I disagree with who they are run on occasion, but I will admit that they always make bold choices. The choices don't always work, but one cannot accuse Jeune Lune of being bland.
Carmen was originally produced last year when most of the Jeune Lune company was in New York, opening Hamlet. It stars a powerhouse pair of sisters, the Baldwins, with Jennifer playing Micaela and Frasquita and Christina playing Carmen.
It was an amazingly done show. Don Jose is a baritone instead of a tenor, but it worked for me. The stage was simple - a thrust with entrances underneath the main audience and on the back wall, as well as a door a story up that had a path down for the mountain scenes. The costumes were very simple, with the exception of Carmen's last dress. The script was arranged so that it almost felt like a drama with singing than an opera-opera, and it worked.
The only problem I had with the show was some of the ensemble's acting. I had to remind myself that opera acting is not our acting, and adjust accordingly. That problem was not present with the four leads, thankfully.
Hmmm. More tired than I thought, because I can't really come up with an analysis. Oh, well.
Yesterday, I ran 8 miles and then ran around like a madwoman trying to find a bloody skirt. I forgot that IKEA had just opened up across the way from the Mall of America, and so was not prepared for the madhouse that greeted me when I went to the MOA. Oy. I did drop off the fabric for the corset & meet with Z's cousins who are decorating the reception, so I felt a little accomplished. When Zach got home from work, we went through the rest of our CD collection and picked out songs for the reception. We now have approximately twice the amount of music we need, which is good, but the winnowing process will be harrowing. Harrowing, I tell you.
This morning, we got up early and went to the Farmer's Market with Z's mom. I love going there, especially with Sadie. We went to her favorite flower guy, who creates monstrous bouquets for only $10, and talked about what I want for the wedding. Then we just wandered about, and I got the world's densent watermelon. Seriously, this thing is 16 pounds and is not all that large. Also got tomatoes and avocados for guacamole, but I'll wait to make that until tomorrow. Or Tuesday.
Dropped Z off at work, went to REI for a new sports bra & CLIF shots, and then went to the fabric store and got taffeta and netting for the skirt. Dropped that off, went into Uptown to get Bodyglide and return the library book, and I decided to stop into Ragstock to see what they had in the way of fun clothing. Lo and behold, what did they have? Friggin' ballerina skirts. I was only saved from a meltdown by the fact that they only had purple & ice blue.
Gave Z the truck, regaled him with my shopping expeditions, and came home to clean and bake oven-"fried" chicken for us and our friends who just had their baby. Oh, and chop up 16 pounds of watermelon.
Now, I think I'll go to bed. Yes.
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no subject
Date: 2004-07-25 09:42 pm (UTC)A runner-type friend (more your caliber than mine in that she's healthy, fit and fast) was over last night and trying to convince me to train. But, so hard!
no subject
Date: 2004-07-26 06:23 am (UTC)I know it's hard, especially with your schedule, but remember how much you love your night runs? Huh? :)
no subject
Date: 2004-07-26 01:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-26 07:31 am (UTC)I know exactly what you mean about opera acting though. I worked at Ted Mann for years and saw a decent amount of opera because of that. It always drove me crazy. I know they were mostly student performances, so I'm sure that was part of it. But the style of "acting" just made me bonkers. I just wanted to drag them all off to an acting class, or 40.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-26 09:04 am (UTC)However, the voices are quite lovely to listen to....
no subject
Date: 2004-07-26 07:43 am (UTC)The Cincinnati Opera mounted a production of it again this summer (the opera "season" is always the summer, with 4 different shows), and it was the season closer -- I think the last performance was yesterday afternoon. Apparently it wasn't as good as people were expecting, in part because Denyce Graves was slated as Carmen, but had to cancel. Now, I have no doubt that the understudy was quite good, but if you're expecting Denyce Graves and don't get her, disappointment will invariably ensue.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-26 09:05 am (UTC)