LA Opera — Attraction in Los Angeles

William Grant Still, where have you been my whole life? I saw Highway 1, his Opera, today. It was in English, and was American. Some very powerful themes in it, and amazing performers. Personal Responsibility. Actions, Consequences, and learning from Behaviors. The music was 20th Century in a good way, the way you'd orchestrate a neighborhood. Somewhere between Ravel and Grofe, with some Jelly Roll Morton thrown in there. He touched on Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox (Brother) but you had to know that to get it. As William Conlon said, Dvorak's pleading for American's to use our source material, Jazz, the African American Experience, and our home stories to shape our music, becomes a mandate after hearing him. Right now I'm listening to Yamekraw, by this artist, and it's like coming home. People know I love ragtime, this is the Classical branch of that.

Part two of the Double feature was The Dwarf, by Alexander Zemlinsky. Based on a story by Oscar Wilde, based on the painting Las Meninas by Velazquez. The story here was quite moving. Oscar Wilde of course, is amazing. The obvious tale of Beauty within, Ugly on the surface- was the vehicle. Briefly, The Dwarf didn’t know he was a dwarf, and was courting a princess, despite the fact that he was a 'gift' by a far away Sultan, to said Princess. Everyone always laughed at him, but he attributed this to his good character, and it uplifted him. He occasionally caught glimpses of his reflection in a sword or a dagger, and he thought it was a sinister spirit, following him - he didn’t realize that was himself. Ultimately, he actually saw a mirror and realized that he was the dwarf and died from heartbreak that he was this ugly all the while the princess kept mocking him. What makes it even more interesting is that the princess said she loved him and she apparently did and the dwarf said he loved her and he did, but she was also saying he was a beast, not a man. He couldn't live with this dichotomy. This is as I mentioned, a vehicle. There is more to this than 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. For you see, the dwarf was actually living very much in the same world as everyone else not knowing he was a dwarf. He did not afford himself the courtesy of being ugly nor would he have a given other people the courtesy of being ugly so he is a tragic character as well. What does this tell the viewers about who we are? Are we all in someways a dwarf, viewing others around us with Pity while we think we are beautiful? When we see our true selves, do we shatter? How can we not? What is the solution to the problem of our human condition? The answer is Love for ourselves, and love for others, despite imperfections. I couldn't help but think how one of my dear friends refers to dating as the Caste system, and dating out of your caste is problematic. Indeed, it's not just dating, it's our society. Only by looking at your reflection, and loving it, can you break free. I think this is the real message of the Dwarf. Musically, it was Lush, and I want to listen to more of this artist. He, like W Grant Still, write modernly without hurting my ears, and the orchestrations were grand scale, almost a sonic prelude to the great movies of the...

I’m not sure if my experience wasn’t so great because I went to a matinee showing, and so maybe the crowd demographics were different than at an evening show, but the audience really ruined the experience for me. The other attendees were really rude during the entire show. The was a cacophony of loud shooshing, constant coughing (that the orchestra and singers were not able to drown out due to the acoustics not being what they should for an performance that did not use microphones), and also there were AT LEAST 15 cell phones that went off over the course of the 2 1/2 hour performance. Note to others in the audience: You loudly going “SHHHHHH!!!!!” any time someone is softly whispering (which should also not be happening) is like 1000 times more distracting than the whispering itself. My friend and I were also getting really dirty looks from a lot of people there. I’m not sure what that’s about other than the crowd was heavy in what seemed like an older, white, conservative demographic. The seats in the orchestra section were also very uncomfortable. The performance was mostly cool. The music was beautiful, as was the lighting. I definitely would have liked to have seen grander sets and more elaborate costuming. I wasn’t a big fan of the way they chose to modernize Orpheus and Eurydice. It didn’t add anything to the story. I can’t say if I’d ever give this opera house another chance. It would have to be a really special show to make up for the physical and emotional discomfort my friend and I...

06.09.22 I had to see Aida as I've always loved that musical masterpiece creation by G. Verdi. Five stars because even though I was at the loge section, I enjoyed my time - staff assigned to direct theater goers were courteous and respectable, availability of cocktail and snacks are on each floor (money making business for certain). I had a freshly wrapped cookie worth almost $6 - I totally did not need it and no excuse for that decision. I had one red worth $20 with the tip - totally not needed and again no excuse for my decision. Parking $9 was reasonable for Los Angeles esp since it's right there at the Music Center. Parking attendants were helpful, too - always be nice and you'll get nice. Probably one of few times I didn't get lost trying to find where I parked. I've always enjoyed going to Dorothy Chandler Pavilion - they did the acoustics right - I'm not a musician or sound pro to say that, but from the few theaters I've visited, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion tops my list for...