stupid, fat couples, rolling their eyes about... that's just rubish

Edwards has decided that in "Amadeus" when Mozart says, "watching italian opera, all those male sopranos screeching... ...stupid, fat couples, rolling their eyes about. That's not love, that's just rubbish." he must have been referring directly to Puccini.

We attempted our third Puccini opera today. Madame Butterfly. At intermission Edwards said, "watching a Puccini opera, produced by Anthony Minguella... I would rather be strung up by my toes and dipped into a vat of boiling oil." (actually, he didn't say that, he said something clever, but now neither of us remember exactly what was said). I also admitted to being quite bored, so, we left.

It feels strange to be opera snobs. When I first started going to Utah Opera performances, they could do no wrong. Now, it is rare for them to do anything right. Blessedly, the Metropolitian Opera started live HD broadcast that, at first, were absolutely captivating and precious in their perfection... today, we walked out.

First, when you see, listen to, perform arias from, opera often enough, you become discerning. It is no longer just music, it is like spending three hours with a stranger, seeing if you get along, hearing what they have to say, and ultimately... you might not like everyone you meet.

Second, when you are choosing to spend three hours in the middle of your Saturday indoors, butts-in-seats, it had better be good. We wracked our brains for a modern soprano who could have made that opera okay... we couldn't think of a soul. We do not like it Sam I Am. We do not like Butterfly Madame. (Really, it's more Puccini's fault directly.)

The upside is, when opera fails you, Utah's landscape doesn't. I picked up Beata for some cross-country skiing in Millcreek Canyon, and Edward's took Tuco climbing in Deaf Smith Canyon. (Note: one winter sport, one summer sport. A few miles apart) My sincere thanks to Puccini for sucking. Had that been a Mozart opera we would have missed a grand day out!