I’m being heckled by the Anthology’s biggest fan (my mother)

Why? Because mama wants more dirt on the opera. And, as everyone knows, you shouldn’t let down your fans. So ma, here you are:

The two female leads were incredible. Absolutely, positively, shivers-down-my-spine incredible. Kate Aldrich (Adalgisa) and Hasmik Papian (Norma) shone so bright they made me desperately wish I could sing. (Said my husband to me once: “Oh. I always thought you sang like that as a joke.”)

But I am a modern opera kind of gal. I love visual spectacle — outrageous costumes and conceptual sets. I would take the acrobatics and partial nudity of last season’s Rigoletto over a traditional interpretation any day.

I did love two things about about Oroveso’s costume (played by Alain Coulombe) — his cuffs and his overthrow (what do you call that? Technicolour dream coat?). Actually, his belt’s quite funky too.

Like the ballet, the opera has a soft spot in my heart. I’ve been a fan ever since Ms. F. took our class as part of our grade nine Humanities class. There is something about a big-budget, high-talent production that is so magical. Overwhelming almost. Plus — this time I actually got to go backstage.

Manga by Roy Husada, the first photo is by Tim Matheson. The last one is my own.