Live blogging Rigoletto

photo credit: Tris Hussey

The power bar is populated… and a row of six laptops are fired up and ready to go. The bloggers, Tris, Rebecca

The Last Patrol psp

, Kimli

Alaska: Spirit of the Wild ipod (with Kimli’s ‘date’ for the evening, Miranda), and Monique

are dressed for an evening of treachery and vengeance that is the opera, Rigoletto

.

We’re about to take a backstage tour with Tom Wright, Director of Artistic Planning.

6:35pm — We’re back!

photo credit: Kimli

That was an interesting tour — The set has been rented from the Calgary opera, and as we entered stage left, I noticed that it was a completely different design than a traditional set like Carmen. This set is a large metal cage, covered only by black curtain and mesh. And this will be the second time the set is used for this Opera. Definitely not what you’d expect for a traditional opera set!

As we walked up the steep stairs to the “rake” stage (a stage which is at a perspective angle, to give the audience a full view of the characters — we can see a bunch of paraphernalia hanging from the top of the cage — It looks like things you’d expect in a circus. This is not going to be your grandmother’s opera, I can tell already…

I hear there’s nudity, too.

So, let’s review… circus-type equipment, check. Nudity? Check. Cage? Check. Hmmm… I wonder how some of these older people who are starting to gather in the lobby are going to feel about this obviously modern approach to Rigoletto?

photo credit: Rebecca Bolwitt

The internet connection is spotty at the moment, so I’m not exactly live blogging this… Hopefully, it’ll come back up soon.

7pm — The bell just rang announcing that the theatre will be opening shortly.

People are coming by, with somewhat puzzled looks, asking us what we’re up to with all these laptops. They all appear to be surprised that we’re here, but are very interested with the concept once we explain.

Like the last time blogging Carmen, there’s quite the age range here for this show. People are more dressed up this time around, as well… There’s definitely some people watching to be done! Heck, even Kimli colour coordinated her dress, her Fluevogs, and her laptop. She looks downright geekalicious!

There’s some guy dictating my blog entry behind me now… He thinks he’s pretty clever (hey, I’m just typing what’s being dictated!), announcing what I’m writing to the rest of the lobby. What a character…

INTERMISSION…

I’m now stealing Tris’ internet connection so that I can actually live blog again Thanks Tris!

One thing, this time around that I’m noticing is that many people here are very passionate about the opera, and everyone seems to have an opinion on this particular rendition of Rigoletto. One man came up to discuss how he felt upset that the original storyline was not being performed (As this is the only time I’ve seen Rigoletto, I wouldn’t know) and another woman loved the non-traditional set design.

…Time to get back to the theatre!

 
From the Calgary Opera production. Photos by Trudie Lee.

AND… It’s over!

Wow, what a stunning performance by Eglice Gutierrez (Gilda)! Her voice went in ranges I didn’t know a human voice could acheive! The rest of the cast were incredible as well… It was neat to see Sheila Christie

Keith divx

, (Tris’ girlfriend) up there with a role this time, as well — She was awesome!

The “cage” throughout the scenes was well-used in a variety of ways, with lighting and additions that really brought a flavour to Rigoletto that I wasn’t expecting (for an opera, anyhow) — For the better! I’ve never seen a set anything like that before, and it was used in a really cool way to set each scene’s mood. You really must see it for yourself…

I think the Vancouver Opera The Curse of the Jade Scorpion psp

High Plains Drifter move

definitely made the right move, bringing this version of Rigoletto to the Vancouver scene. I highly recommend it!

Thank you so much to Ling, Selina, and the rest of the Vancouver Opera group for having me (and the rest of the bloggers) back to enjoy such a fabulous evening. I’ll be gushing about this night for weeks to come!

There’s several shows coming up, so don’t miss out! — Tuesday March 10th, Thursday March 12th, Saturday March 14th and Tuesday March 17th. Tickets can only be purchased through the Vancouver Opera and they start at about $23 (and there’s a discount for group tickets and subscriptions, too!). And, I’ll let you in on an awesome deal to be had for the performance on the 17th! Become a fan on Facebook here, and you can get tickets BOGO (buy one get one FREE!)