La Traviopera

This week we are actually talking about an oratorio......YAY! We dive into the world of Theodora which was written by George Frideric Handel with the libretto by Thomas Morell. This story is based off Robert Boyle's The Martyrdom of Theodora and Didymus. Valens, a Roman Ruler, says that everyone needs to make a sacrifice to the God Jupiter, and those who don't will be executed. Among the people who do not want to is Theodora as she does not worship Jupiter to which her punishment isn't death, but prostitution. She escapes prison with the help of Didymus and his friend. In the end, both Theodora and Didymus are at the hands of Valens who orders both of their deaths.

Sources:

https://operascotland.org/opera/638/Theodora

https://operavision.eu/performance/theodora

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioch

This week we are talking about Falstaff! An Italian opera in three acts with a libretto by Arrigo Boito. Falstaff is unable to pay a large bill so instead of being responsible he comes up with a plan to seduce two young women who are married to wealthy men. The two women, Meg and Alice, find out his plan and hatch a plan of their own to get revenge. Alice’s husband tries to create his own plan of revenge and ends up in a fit or rage. They eventually come together and catch Falstaff forcing him to realize his wrong doings and ways of life. Listen now to get the full story!

Sources:

https://www.metopera.org/discover/synopses/falstaff/

https://www.operanorth.co.uk/news/falstaff-in-a-nutshell/

This week we are talking about Carmen! Yet another story where a man kills a woman for his own selfish desires. Don Jose thinks not with his brain but something else as be falls for Carmen leaving behind his mother as well as his partner Micaëla. Eventually the romance turns stagnant as Carmen falls for another man Escamillo. As jealousy wreaks havoc within Jose, he eventually comes to the conclusion “if I can’t have you, nobody can” and ends Carmen’s life prematurely for his own selfish desires. Listen to get the full story!

Sources:

https://www.metopera.org/discover/synopses/carmen/

https://www.eno.org/operas/carmen/

This week's episode is The Medium by Gian Carlo Menotti and libretto also written by Menotti. This two-act English opera is about Madame Flora and her business as a Medium to connect with people that have passed over. Monica and adopted family member Toby orchestrate themselves as the spirits during the séance in the first part of the opera. Madame Flora ends up encountering weird situations that she ends up blaming on Toby for no reason. She starts to unravel during the second act and the opera comes to a sad, and gory, end.

Sources:

https://operavision.eu/performance/medium

https://opera-stl.org/the-medium-1976/#:~:text=Lighting%20Designer-,Synopsis,back%20to%20haunt%20the%20living.

This week's episode is a one-act opera in French by Maurice Ravel. This comedic story covers the life of Torquemada, a clockmaker, who has gone out to tend to the towns clocks. While he is doing this his wife Concepción is up to no good and invited her "male friends" over. Yet, she is hindered by a customer named Ramiro and tries to distract him so she can be with her two "friends" that have come over. Both of her gentlemen "friends" end up hiding in the clocks and later escape after her husband has returned home. After this entire debacle, she is now attracted to Ramiro, the customer at the shop.

Sources:

https://www.operaamerica.org/calendar/production/21705/lheure-espagnole

https://stageagent.com/shows/opera/2405/lheure-espagnole

This weeks opera we dive into the world of Lakmé by Léo Delibes. This three act French opera premiered in 1883 at the Opera Comique in Paris, France. This story takes place during the English Rule in India. Lakmé is the daughter of a high priest who falls in love with a British Soldier named Gerald. Her father believes he needs to protect her honor and decides to get revenge on Gerald. After surviving a stab wound, Lakmé nurses Gerald back to health only for him to leave her and she ends up ending her life. I hope you enjoy this week’s episode!

Sources:

https://www.operaamerica.org/calendar/production/21248/lakme

https://www.liveabout.com/lakme-synopsis-724265

https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/the-british-impact-on-india-1700-1900/

https://www.britannica.com/event/British-raj

Flower Duet with Sabine Devieilhe and Marianne Crebassa: https://youtu.be/C1ZL5AxmK_A?si=a8zAulq1Pnl81N3l

Bell song with Sabine Devieilhe: https://youtu.be/C1ZL5AxmK_A?si=a8zAulq1Pnl81N3l

This week's episode we have a special guest, my girlfriend Theresa! We talk about Mozart's The Magic Flute. Following the story of Tamino and his quest to 'free' the captive Pamina which he is sent on by her mother, The Queen of the Night. While on his journey, he must complete three different tests to prove himself to the 'evil' Sarastros. During these tests, Pamina think he has betrayed her because he won't talk to her. They eventually end up happy in the end with the Queen and her ladies defeated.

Sources:

https://www.metopera.org/discover/synopses/the-magic-flute/

https://www.eno.org/operas/the-magic-flute/

This week's episode is late but better late than never! This week we are covering the story of Don Giovanni, an Italian opera in two acts with music by Mozart and libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It's first premiere was in 1787 and is now regularly performed today. This story follows the womanizer named Don Giovanni as he wreaks havoc in his community. Our story starts with him fighting with Donna Anna and then killing her father while he is in disguise, followed by his past lover Donna Elvira who wants him to change his ways just for her to be shown an entire LIST of women he's been with. He eventually meets his fate for being the worst person on the planet and gets dragged down to Hell by demons.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Giovanni

https://www.metopera.org/discover/synopses/don-giovanni/

https://www.eno.org/operas/don-giovanni/

Hey everyone....I'm back after missing another week (please forgive me). This week we are covering the opera Wozzeck, in German, with music and libretto by Alban Berg! In the recording it sounds like I said Alan but I swear I said Alban. This opera covers a soldier named Wozzeck who has an illegitimate child with a woman named Maria. He is suspicious of Maria being unfaithful and ends up being plagued with many visions that would predict his future. He ends up killing Maria and then himself while trying to hide the murder weapon (classic). Sorry for another opera where a woman gets killed....it happens a lot. I hope you enjoy this interesting tale!

Sources:

https://www.metopera.org/discover/synopses/wozzeck/

https://www.lyricopera.org/shows/upcoming/2015-16/wozzeck/

Sorry for this late episode! This week we are discussing Dido and Aeneas. A baroque opera by Henry Purcell that pulls from Greek Mythology to create a tragic love story. Dido is the Queen of Carthage and falls for our character Aeneas who is a demigod. Yet, enemies who want to see the downfall of Dido interfere and cause a split between the pair and wreak havoc in the city. Dido ends up dying at the end due to a 'broken heart.'

Sources:

https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/opera/rep/baroque/dido-and-aeneas/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Aeneas