The Opera

So we just got back from the Opera. Well, the first half of the Opera. and then gelato. Let's just say, the show was a testament to the fact that a good tech crew can make a show, while a bad crew can destroy a show.

We saw Handel's Xerxes, and we only paid 900 Forint, or about $4.00 for it. We wanted to go to the Opera because we live a block away, and sometimes at night I could here the singing, and the sining sounds amazing. The opera house is an absolutely gorgeous building- the exterior has amazing statues all around it, and the interior has frescoes on the ceiling, a gorgeous chandelier, and wonderfully old seats and balconies that you can tell have been there forever.

The pit was open, so you could actually see the orchestra, unlike in most shows I've seen in America. The orchestra was wonderful, too. The singing in the show was also amazing. These were definately professional opera singer on stage. What the opera singers were not, however, is professional break dancers, despite their apparent attempts to relive scenes from some kind of bad 90's musical.

That's right. The set design, costumes, and choreography to the opera appeared to be set in Egypt in 1992. The costumes were odd and brightly colored and consisted complete with baseball caps, hoodies, and harem pants. There were a few sequined hats and jackets as well. The set consisted of a purple overpass and a ghetto apartment complex with air conditioning units and arabic graffiti. The choreography was basically poor attempts at breakdancing.

Perhaps we would have understood the design choices if we spoke Hungarian, since the show was part Italian (with Hungarian subtitles), and part Hungarian. Still, I doubt the design choices were ever justified. I just don't personally think Handel goes with a bizarre 90's theme.... This is why good techies are important.

Anyway, we left at intermission. After and hour and a half. Still, for about $4.00, there's no real loss.

The rest of the day was great though! We had econ class at this Aztec chocolate shop and had hot cocoa while we talked about taxes. Then after classes we went back up to castle hill and Barbara John, Rachel, my roommate Dana, and I had a great lunch on the hill. Tomorrow we all go to the Unicum factory on a field trip, then to a dinner and a cruise on the Danube.