The Marriage of Figaro: by Mozart

Such a fun opera. I have to say that it is always nice to have one or two that are just fun to watch. Lots of characters and situations. This opera includes some slapstick elements which are always a treat. Very delightful to hear the entire opera house roaring with laughter.

Pros: Entirely enjoyable. An opera for the masses. It is ridiculously popular and for good reason. The staging was great. The costumes were great. Their were large sections of pseudo conversation (which I happen to like)

Cons: Crowded theater. That is about as bad as I can say though!

Must See Rating: *****

Erwartung: by Schoenberg

Ok. This opera is best described as opera on acid because there is no plot. It is like the mental break of a woman who killed her lover. The walls moved and flowed and she roamed around like a crazy person (no pun intended).

Pros: I found the visual performance to be quite enthralling and kept my attention the entire time.

Cons: Since there is no real story, just one woman singing the entire opera, it feels a bit like a weird monologue that you can't get out of seeing. It was also not as interesting musically especially compared with Bluebeard's Castle. The two operas were a fine fit in length but topically it was quite a stretch to see them together.

Must See Rating: **

Bluebeards Castle: by Bartok

This opera I saw paired with Erwatung since both are short one act operas. The theme is really creepy and the lady had to be an idiot to think that this guy is worth marrying but that is just me. Without that dynamic there would be no opera.

Pros: Astounding music. Very reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock horror shows and scary movies. It kept you on the edge of you chair knowing that something very, very bad was going to happen to this new bride.

Cons: By the time you hit the seventh door it feels a bit redundant but that is ok.

Must See Rating: ****

The Pearl Fishers: by Bizet

Just when you feel like all opera is consumed with death and revenge along comes an opera like The Pearl Fishers. This opera is a wonderful story about making the right choices for the right reasons.

Pros: Brilliant scenery and lighting. The singers were fantastic and the story line was great. Had a very ancient feeling to the story.

Cons: None that I can recall!

Must See Rating: ****

Electra: Richard Strauss

Electra is a complementary opera to Iphigenia in Tauris in topic only. Both operas are roughly drawn around the same story line although each tackle different components and seasons of the tale. Both are extremely dark story lines which of course makes for fabulously intriguing opera.

Pros: Spooky feel to the whole story line.

Cons: You tend to not know who to root for. Do you cheer for the daughter with only revenge on her mind? Or the mom who just wants to move on? Somehow neither option seems right.

Must See Rating: ****

Aida: by Verdi

Finally we are in a season that I remember more clearly. 2008/2009 was a good season and Aida was a fabulous way to begin it.

Pros: Wonderful story and costuming. The set was really good too. I remember enjoying both of the main story lines of this opera and found the music to be quite enjoyable.

Cons: Can't think of any which is a good thing

Must See Rating: ****

I Purtitana: by Belini

***Sigh*** Another one I don't remember much of. So much so I don't even have pros and cons. I remember nice costumes and that is it. I really should have done this blog much, much sooner.

Must See Rating: **** (Since I can't remember it at all)