Left Coast Mama » Singing

La Traviata: A Review

Gwen — Thu, 05 May 2011 00:19:14 +0000

La Traviata is the finale of the Vancouver Opera’s 2010-2011 Season and I was invited to blog the opera on opening night on 30 April 2011. I happily accepted and I loved the experience.

In the first two acts before the intermission we meet Violetta and Alfredo, the star crossed lovers. For three months they are happy and locked away from the world until Alfredo’s father makes Violetta give up Alfredo for the sake of his daughter. He doesn’t tell his son what he is doing and makes Violetta feel guilty enough for her past life that she lies to Alfredo and tells him she is going back to her benefactor the Barron. Alfredo believes and is consumed with jealousy. In the next two acts we have Violetta trying to party herself to death and Alfredo making a total fool of himself. Alfredo’s father becomes so upset at his son’s behaviour, and because Violetta is so sick, that he (Alfredo’s father) relents and tells Alfredo of Violetta’s sacrifice. In the last act Violetta is dying and Alfredo and his father make is just in time for her death.

The singing was beautiful and it was a great mixture of big group numbers and solos. Erin Wall as Violetta was fabulous. Her control in her singing blew me away especially in the last act where she spends half the act singing while lying down in a bed. Her voice is very clear and not over done with vibrato. David Pomeroy, who played Alfredo, was good too, but he didn’t blow me away like Erin did. I think this is perhaps because I identify much more with Erin’s voice and character, not that I am in any way a courtesan, because of her sacrifices. The other characters and opera chorus were good and the whole production was beautiful.

One thing I was not prepared for were some of the random thoughts that came through my head, especially when it came to Violetta’s sickness. Since she had tuberculous one of the first things that jumped out at me is how sad it is that people used to die from diseases that are now preventable and treatable. Then I thought about how diseases like tuberculosis are coming back into the mainstream. People are getting mumps and measles and other fully preventable diseases because of a decrease in vaccinations. Then I felt anger that not only was Violetta dying without her lover, but that so many people are unnecessarily sick in real life.

The thing that I love about opera is that no matter how odd it might be to have a whole story told in song, there is always something to draw you in further. A good opera makes you feel, even if you don’t understand the language. There were so many times I was so entranced by the music that I forgot to take a peek up to the subtitles.

La Traviata plays April 30, May 3,5,7,10 & 12, 2011 Call 604.683.0222 for ticket information.

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Disclosure: I was invited to the April 30th show and I was given two tickets. I was encouraged to blog about the opera but not required to. All opinions on this blog are my own.

Vancouver Opera: La Traviata

Gwen — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 21:58:10 +0000

Tonight I am going to the opera and I get to be one of the bloggers on display. I am looking forward to the spectacle of the dresses, drama and of course the singing. I love opera and if I had the guts and voice for it, it might be something I would have done as a career. In my years as a Dalhousie music student, I am sure my vocal teacher would have laughed at that statement, but it is true. I came to love opera and I am so in awe of those that have the vocal and acting talent to pull it off well.

Tonight the Vancouver Opera company is putting on Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata” with Erin Wall as Violetta and David Pomeroy as Alfredo.

Violetta and Alfredo; Photo by Tim Matheson

Violetta is a consumptive courtesan who takes up with Alfredo. As with most opera things do not go well for the couple as Alfredo’s father doesn’t apporove and convinces Violetta that Alfredo’s sister will never get amrried if she and Alfredo are still together. Alfredo, not knowing what his father has done, meets up with Violetta with another man at a party and things do not go well. It is not until Alfredo’s father realizes how sick Violetta really is that he relents and tells Alfreo what he has done and consents for the two to marry. In the end Violetta and Alfredo don’t marry, but she gives him a small portrait of herself and prays that he and the woman he does marry are happy. She then dies.

Practice Makes Perfect: I Need A Little Faith

Gwen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:00:43 +0000

I am part of my church choir. In fact as the past choir director and organist gets older I am taking on more and more of the administrative and musical directing of the choir. This is scary for a few reasons, the first being my absolute inability to play the piano.

Most of the time my ineptitude on the keyboard is ok because there is an organist who is willing to be part of rehearsals and the main choir services. Rehearsals like tonight are a different story. Without a pianist getting new members up to speed is a much more difficult task. We started out very rough. Of course the fact that half the choir was still not able to get to rehearsal was also a problem. Once the main tenor was in the rehearsal and I wasn’t trying to sing three parts at once the rehearsal went much more smoothly.

I know that every year this is a problem. People are busy and can’t make rehearsals until practically the last two weeks. This really stresses me out even though I know it will come together. This year I even tried to start the rehearsals early. I figured giving the choir a few more weeks to practice that we wouldn’t be scrambling.

I think some prayers wouldn’t be amiss. Or hey, anyone who can sing and read music available for a service on December 6th, and a couple of rehearsals beforehand, email me.

I guess I just gotta have some faith.

If You Like to Talk to Tomatoes

Gwen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:15:46 +0000

At our house there is almost always some sort of music on at least in the background. We sing out loud and proud and Aidan is no different. Luckily he seems to be (so far) taking after me in the vocal department and after his father in the rhythm department.

We play all kinds of music and Aidan loves to move and sing to it all. You only have to hear him singing “Ruby” by the Kaiser Chiefs or “Somebody Told Me” by the Killers to know that he has exquisite taste. He also knows all the words to the “7,8, 9″ song by the Bare Naked Ladies. Just for his uncles he also knows most of the words to “Story of My Life” by Social Distortion, and he is our singer for Rock Band, especially “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones.

Just in case you think that this sounds like a very grown up set of songs we also love to sing “When Cats Go Wrong” by Norm Hacking and any of the Veggie Tales songs. Gotta love singing the Veggie Tales theme while going down the grocery store aisle. Sure you get a few looks but I fully expect to use it to calm the new babe as easily as it used to calm Aidan.

“If you like to talk to tomatoes,

if a squash can make you smile,

if you like to waltz with potatoes,

up and down the produce aisle;

Have we got a show for you.

Veggie Tales, Veggie Tales,

Veggie Tales, Veggies Tales,

Veggie Tales.”

Come on and sing it with me now. Don’t be afraid, let your inner vegetarian out and join the song. “You Rock!”

This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as an entry for a contest sponsored by Bush’s Beans. Join in the fun! You could win one of two $500 Best Buy gift cards. Can you say my husband’s and FIL’s Christmas taken care of?

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A Few New Things

Gwen — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:33:58 +0000

Aidan has been growing by leaps and bounds in the last month both in body and mind. We left Vancouver with 3 pairs of shoes that fit and by the weekend of the first week they no longer fit. We brought out his Aunt PJ’s old tricycle and he couldn’t quite push the pedals all around because he was too short and a week later he can.

Language is another story where his grammar is exploding. Aidan has explored both plurals and possessives for some time but his sense of 1st, 2nd and 3rd person is just beginning to blossom. You know you are a geek when you mainly notice after he took a ding out of his Grampa’s floor the he said “I threw the bone.” He is also coming out with a number of new phrases including “Yes indeed!” Aidan’s sentences are also becoming much longer and more complicated. He understands the sequence of first, next and after, which just blows my mind!

The other (and last for this post) thing that has exploded is Aidan’s singing ability. Not an “erner erner” in the bunch. He now sings a medly of Twinkle, Twinkle, The Alphabet Song, Baa, Baa Black Sheep, Skinamarink, 5 Little Monkeys, Bingo and new today I am Slowly Going Crazy. I am sure you also see the irony in this.

Have a great one!

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Related: Aidan, cute, language aquisition, milestones, out of the mouthes of babes, Singing.

erner, erner, erner er . . . the sequel

Gwen — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:19:52 +0000

Aidan has a new song for his arsenal. We were at the doctor’s office and as we were leaving Aidan started singing “I love you.” He then proceeded to sing it all the way home. I figured out pretty quickly that he was singing “Skinamarink.” It is very cute.

I love you,

in the morning,

and noon,

under moon.

I love you.

He is way too cute for his own good, though I thought he would say “I love you Mommy” before he would sing it in a song.